Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2014.

Registration Nos. 333-146374

811-22127

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

Form N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   x
   Pre-Effective Amendment No.            ¨
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 38   x

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   x
  Amendment No. 39   x

(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)

 

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Address of Principal Executive Officers) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 345-6611

 

 

Christopher O. Petersen, Esq.

c/o Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

225 Franklin Street,

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

 

¨ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
x On May 1, 2014 pursuant to paragraph (b)
¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

¨ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

This Post-Effective Amendment relates to all series of the Registrant.

 

 

 


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds

    
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund
(Class 1*, Class 2* and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)
Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund
(Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3)

  
* For Columbia Variable Portfolio - Balanced Fund, Class 1 and Class 2 shares are not expected to be available for purchase until June 25, 2014.
Each above-named Columbia Variable Portfolio and Variable Portfolio Fund (each a “VP Fund” or a “Fund” and together the “VP Funds” or the “Funds”) may offer Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and certain other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Funds.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Table of Contents
SUMMARIES OF THE FUNDS Investment Objective(s), Fees and Expenses of the Fund, Principal Investment Strategies, Principal Risks, Performance Information, Fund Management, Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Tax Information, Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries.  

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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds Table of Contents

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Prospectus 2014 3

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Balanced Fund (the Fund) seeks maximum total investment return through a combination of capital growth and current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.64% 0.64% 0.64%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses (a) 0.16% 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.80% 1.05% 0.93%
(a) Other expenses for Class 1 and Class 2 are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s current fiscal year.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 82 $255 $444 $ 990
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $107 $334 $579 $1,283
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 95 $296 $515 $1,143
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 129% (72% excluding mortgage dollar rolls) of the average value of its portfolio.
4 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in a mix of equity and debt securities. The Fund’s assets are allocated among equity and debt securities (which includes cash and cash equivalents) based on an assessment of the relative risks and returns of each asset class. The Fund generally will invest between 35% and 65% of its net assets in each asset class, and in any event will invest at least 25% and no more than 75% of its net assets in each asset class under normal circumstances.
With respect to its equity securities investments, which may include among other types of equity securities, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, have large market capitalizations (generally over $5 billion).
With respect to its debt securities investments, the Fund invests primarily in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality. These securities include debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, and other debt securities with intermediate- to long-term maturities. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures (including bond futures) and forwards (such as dollar rolls and investments in the To-Be-Announced market, among other forward-settling transactions). The Fund may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging (investment) purposes, including, for example, to seek to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset, as well as to manage duration, yield curve and/or interest rate exposure.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with
Prospectus 2014 5

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
6 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Prospectus 2014 7

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Class 1 and Class 2 shares of the Fund did not commence operations prior to the date of this prospectus and, therefore, performance is not yet available. The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 13.48%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -16.31%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 3 04/30/1986 21.45% 14.72% 6.31%
Blended Index* (consists of 60% S&P 500 Index and 40% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   17.56% 12.71% 6.54%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 7.41%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 4.44% 4.55%
  
* On May 1, 2014, the Fund added a Blended Index for Fund performance comparison purposes. The Blended Index provides an additional basis for comparing the Fund's performance (given the Fund's asset allocation strategy to both equity and debt investments) as compared to the Fund's performance against, individually, the S&P 500 Index and Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Leonard Aplet, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Short Duration and Stable Value   Co-manager   2011
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Gregory Liechty   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Guy Pope, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Contrarian Core   Co-manager   2011
Ronald Stahl, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
8 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 9

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Cash Management Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with maximum current income consistent with liquidity and stability of principal.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.33% 0.33% 0.33%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.15% 0.15% 0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.48% 0.73% 0.61%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $49 $154 $269 $604
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $75 $233 $406 $906
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $62 $195 $340 $762
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in money market instruments, such as marketable debt obligations issued by corporations or the U.S. Government or its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, and commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks and U.S. Government securities. Additionally, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments.
Because the Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, capital appreciation is not expected to play a role in the Fund’s return. The Fund’s yield will vary from day to day.
10 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
The Fund restricts its investments to instruments that meet certain maturity and quality standards required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for money market funds. For example, the Fund:
Invests substantially in securities rated in the highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund is permitted to invest up to 3% of its total assets in securities rated in the second highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality.
Limits its U.S. dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity to 60 days or less and its U.S. dollar-weighted average life to 120 days or less.
Buys obligations with remaining maturities of 397 days or less (as maturity is calculated by SEC rules governing the operation of money market funds).
Buys only obligations that are denominated in U.S. dollars and present minimal credit risk.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
The principal risks associated with an investment in the Fund include:
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund's asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk (i.e., the risk that the Fund will have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country.
Industry Concentration Risk.  Investments that are concentrated in a particular industry will make the Fund’s portfolio value more susceptible to the events or conditions impacting that particular industry. Because the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by banks, the value of the Fund may be adversely affected by economic, political or regulatory developments in or that impact the banking industry.
Prospectus 2014 11

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. A rise in the overall level of interest rates may result in the decline in the prices of fixed-income securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s yield will vary; it is not fixed for a specific period like the yield on a bank certificate of deposit. Falling interest rates may result in a decline in the Fund’s income and yield (since the Fund must then invest in lower-yielding fixed-income securities). Under certain circumstances, the yield decline could cause the Fund’s net yield to be negative (such as when Fund expenses exceed income levels).
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Money Market Fund Risk. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit, and is not insured or guaranteed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager's parent, the FDIC or any other government agency, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, but the net asset values of money market fund shares can fall, and in infrequent cases in the past have fallen, below $1.00 per share, potentially causing shareholders who redeem their shares at such net asset values to lose money from their original investment. If the net asset value of Fund shares were to fall below $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that the Investment Manager or its affiliates would protect the Fund or redeeming shareholders against a loss of principal.
At times of (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or a few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) insufficient levels of cash in the Fund's portfolio to satisfy redemption activity, and (iii) disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in order to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. Sales of portfolio securities at such times could result in losses to the Fund and cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. Additionally, in some cases, the default of a single portfolio security could cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. In addition, the Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
Regulatory Risk. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation or performance of the Fund. For example, the SEC has proposed amendments to money market regulation, which may have adverse consequences for money market funds, including the Fund. These changes, if adopted, may affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategies, and may impact the Fund’s future operations, performance and/or yields.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information, including current 7-day yield, can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2007 1.21%
Worst

1st Quarter 2010 0.002%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 0.01% 0.02% 1.48%
Class 2 05/03/2010 0.01% 0.02% 1.49%
Class 3 10/13/1981 0.01% 0.02% 1.49%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Prospectus 2014 13

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while attempting to conserve the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.41% 0.41% 0.41%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.55% 0.80% 0.68%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $56 $176 $307 $689
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $82 $255 $444 $990
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $69 $218 $379 $847
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 258% (195% excluding mortgage dollar rolls) of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing up to 20% of net assets in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
Prospectus 2014 15

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling transactions (including securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; options (including options on listed futures) for investment purposes; collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment and hedging purposes; and inverse floaters for investment purposes. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions include interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 5.48%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -2.82%
Prospectus 2014 19

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 -2.25% 6.87% 4.34%
Class 2 05/03/2010 -2.44% 6.66% 4.17%
Class 3 10/13/1981 -2.39% 6.78% 4.30%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 4.44% 4.55%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Carl Pappo, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Core Fixed Income   Lead manager   2011
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Michael Zazzarino   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
20 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Dividend Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, steady growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.70% 0.95% 0.83%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $72 $224 $390 $ 871
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $97 $303 $525 $1,166
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $85 $265 $460 $1,025
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks. The selection of dividend-paying stocks is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as structured investments (e.g., equity-linked notes), for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Structured Investments Risk. Structured instruments include debt instruments that are collateralized by the underlying cash flows of a pool of financial assets or receivables. Structured investments may be less liquid than other debt securities (or illiquid), and the price of structured investments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on its terms, a structured investment may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured investments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. The Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If structured investments are used to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
22 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (continued)
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 17.80%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -23.96%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 26.81% 15.49% 7.81%
Class 2 05/03/2010 26.53% 15.22% 7.62%
Class 3 09/15/1999 26.72% 15.37% 7.76%
MSCI USA High Dividend Yield Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   27.65% 16.20% 7.42%
Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.53% 16.67% 7.58%
  
Prospectus 2014 23

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (continued)
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Steven Schroll   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2003
Paul Stocking   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2006
Dean Ramos, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
24 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 1.07% 1.07% 1.07%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.23% 0.23% 0.23%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.30% 1.55% 1.43%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $132 $412 $713 $1,568
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $158 $490 $845 $1,845
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $146 $452 $782 $1,713
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 83% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including, but not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks) of companies located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include those countries whose economies are considered to be developing or emerging from underdevelopment.
Prospectus 2014 25

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector. However, the Fund has invested substantially in the information technology and technology-related sectors and may continue to invest substantially in these or other sectors in the future. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund may invest in securities that the investment manager believes are undervalued, represent growth opportunities, or both.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
26 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value
Prospectus 2014 27

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 32.32%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2008 -29.11%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 -1.59% 14.42% 10.80%
Class 2 05/03/2010 -1.87% 14.16% 10.62%
Class 3 05/01/2000 -1.80% 14.29% 10.74%
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   -2.60% 14.79% 11.17%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Dara White, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead Manager   2012
28 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Robert Cameron   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Jasmine (Weili) Huang, CFA, CPA
(U.S. and China), CFM
  Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 29

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Global Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through income and growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.17% 0.17% 0.17%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.73% 0.98% 0.86%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 75 $233 $406 $ 906
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $100 $312 $542 $1,201
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 88 $274 $477 $1,061
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 46% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in debt obligations of U.S. and foreign issuers. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in investment-grade corporate or government debt obligations, including money market instruments, of issuers located in at least three different countries. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk in seeking to achieve higher dividends and/or capital appreciation by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
30 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
In addition, in pursuing its objective, the Fund, relying on quantitative and qualitative analyses, may enter into various currency-, interest rate- and credit-related transactions involving derivatives instruments, including futures contracts (such as currency, bond, treasury, index and interest rate futures) and forward foreign currency contracts (forwards). The use of these derivatives instruments allows the Fund to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected currencies, interest rates and duration risks. The Fund may use these derivatives as well as “to be announced” (TBA) mortgage-backed securities in an effort to produce incremental earnings, for hedging purposes, to obtain increased or decreased exposures to various markets/sectors or to increase investment flexibility. Actual long and short exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Prospectus 2014 31

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
32 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund's assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund's obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prospectus 2014 33

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Quantitative Model Risk. Investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Short Positions Risk. The Fund may establish short positions which introduce more risk to the Fund than long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument or other asset) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument or other asset purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument or other asset plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument or other asset when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument or other asset, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument or other asset.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
34 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2010 8.20%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -5.32%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 -7.60% 4.18% 3.90%
Class 2 05/03/2010 -7.83% 3.97% 3.72%
Class 3 05/01/1996 -7.79% 4.07% 3.85%
Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.60% 3.91% 4.46%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Nicholas Pifer, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Fixed Income   Co-Manager   2000
Jim Cielinski   Portfolio Manager   Co-Manager   October 2013
Matthew Cobon   Portfolio Manager   Co-Manager   October 2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Prospectus 2014 35

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
36 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – High Yield Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.58% 0.58% 0.58%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.18% 0.18% 0.18%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.76% 1.01% 0.89%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 78 $243 $422 $ 942
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $103 $322 $558 $1,236
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 91 $284 $493 $1,096
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 63% of the average value of its portfolio.
Prospectus 2014 37

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield debt instruments (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds or securities). These high yield debt instruments include corporate debt securities as well as floating rate loans rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments of foreign issuers.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio managers in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Confidential Information Access Risk. The Investment Manager normally will seek to avoid the receipt of material, non-public information (Confidential Information) about the issuers of floating rate loans (including from the issuer itself) being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. The investment manager’s decision not to receive Confidential Information may disadvantage the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign
38 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may include highly leveraged transactions whereby the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price of its investment, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Floating rate loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may trade infrequently, and their value may be impaired when the Fund needs to liquidate such loans. Loans or other assets may trade only in the over-the-counter market rather than on an organized exchange and may be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Prospectus 2014 39

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 25.06%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -19.01%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 6.19% 17.97% 8.38%
Class 2 05/03/2010 5.98% 17.69% 8.16%
Class 3 05/01/1996 6.07% 17.84% 8.32%
Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Cash-Pay Constrained Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   7.37% 18.50% 8.37%
  
40 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Jennifer Ponce de Leon   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of High Yield Fixed Income   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 41

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Income Opportunities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.57% 0.57% 0.57%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.15% 0.15% 0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.72% 0.97% 0.85%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $74 $230 $401 $ 894
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $99 $309 $536 $1,190
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $87 $271 $471 $1,049
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 56% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s assets are invested primarily in income-producing debt securities, with an emphasis on the higher rated segment of the high-yield (junk bond) market. These income-producing debt securities include corporate debt securities as well as bank loans. The Fund will purchase only securities rated B or above, or if unrated, securities determined to be of comparable quality. If a security falls below a B rating after investment by the Fund, the Fund may continue to hold the security.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio manager in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks
Prospectus 2014 43

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may include highly leveraged transactions whereby the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio manager may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio manager may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
44 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 16.68%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -13.35%
Prospectus 2014 45

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Class 1 05/03/2010 5.09% 15.66% 8.17%
Class 2 05/03/2010 5.01% 15.44% 7.98%
Class 3 06/01/2004 5.02% 15.57% 8.12%
Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Cash Pay BB-B Rated Constrained Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   6.29% 16.45% 8.11%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Manager   2004
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
46 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – International Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.79% 0.79% 0.79%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.21% 0.21% 0.21%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.00% 1.25% 1.13%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $102 $318 $552 $1,225
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $127 $397 $686 $1,511
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $115 $359 $622 $1,375
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 88% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers that are believed to offer strong growth potential. The Fund may invest in developed and in emerging markets.
Prospectus 2014 47

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
48 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 19.41%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -20.53%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 22.35% 12.94% 7.43%
Class 2 05/03/2010 22.09% 12.65% 7.14%
Class 3 01/13/1992 22.16% 12.83% 7.37%
MSCI EAFE Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   22.78% 12.44% 6.91%
  
Prospectus 2014 49

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (continued)
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Threadneedle International Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
William Davies   Head of Global Equities and Deputy Head of Equities of Threadneedle   Portfolio Manager   June 2013
Simon Haines, CFA   Fund Manager   Deputy Portfolio Manager   December 2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
50 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.68% 0.68% 0.68%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.81% 1.06% 0.94%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 83 $259 $450 $1,002
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $108 $337 $585 $1,294
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 96 $300 $520 $1,155
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 93% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.15 billion to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that the investment manager believes have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth.
Prospectus 2014 51

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
52 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 1st Quarter 2012 17.27%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -24.78%
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 5/3/2010 30.44% 19.53% 6.24%
Class 2 5/3/2010 30.00% 19.25% 6.03%
Class 3 9/15/1999 30.26% 19.44% 6.20%
Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.48% 20.39% 7.83%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
John Wilson, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2010
Peter Deininger, CFA, CAIA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
54 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Large Core Quantitative Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.64% 0.64% 0.64%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.15% 0.15% 0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.79% 1.04% 0.92%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 81 $252 $439 $ 978
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $106 $331 $574 $1,271
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 94 $293 $509 $1,131
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Although the Fund is managed based primarily on quantitative methods, a qualitative review of the quantitative output is conducted by the portfolio managers. Therefore, the Fund’s performance will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make active, qualitative decisions, including allocation decisions that seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Quantitative Model Risk. Investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (continued)
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 16.69%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -24.22%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 33.78% 18.58% 6.11%
Class 2 05/03/2010 33.48% 18.32% 5.90%
Class 3 10/13/1981 33.65% 18.47% 6.06%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 7.41%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Condon, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Quantitative Strategies   Co-manager   2010
Oliver Buckley   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Prospectus 2014 57

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
58 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.76% 0.76% 0.76%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.90% 1.15% 1.03%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 92 $287 $498 $1,108
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $117 $365 $633 $1,398
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $105 $328 $569 $1,259
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 115% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) at the time of purchase in the common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-cap companies are considered to be companies whose market capitalization (number of shares outstanding multiplied by the share price) falls within the market capitalization range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests
Prospectus 2014 59

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth but may invest in companies for their short, medium or long-term prospects. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Prospectus 2014 61

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 26.91%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -28.83%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 31.13% 20.75% 6.81%
Class 2 05/03/2010 30.90% 20.51% 6.66%
Class 3 05/01/2001 31.03% 20.64% 6.76%
Russell Midcap Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   35.74% 23.37% 9.77%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
George Myers, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2011
Brian Neigut   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
James King   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
William Chamberlain, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
62 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 63

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.74% 0.74% 0.74%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.88% 1.13% 1.01%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 90 $281 $488 $1,084
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $115 $359 $622 $1,375
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $103 $322 $558 $1,236
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 58% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies. Medium-sized companies are those whose market capitalizations at the time of purchase fall within the market capitalization range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index) (between $968 million and $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund normally invests in common stocks and also may invest in real estate investment trusts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (continued)
pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 23.27%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -28.69%
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Class 1 05/03/2010 37.87% 20.96% 9.17%
Class 2 05/03/2010 37.58% 20.73% 8.99%
Class 3 05/02/2005 37.74% 20.86% 9.11%
Russell Midcap Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.46% 21.16% 9.37%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Hoffman   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
Diane Sobin, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – S&P 500 Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.10% 0.10% 0.10%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.21% 0.21% 0.21%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.31% 0.56% 0.44%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $32 $100 $174 $393
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $57 $179 $313 $701
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $45 $141 $246 $555
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks that comprise the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index (the Index). The Fund may invest in derivatives, consisting of stock index futures, as substitutes for the underlying securities in the Index.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund (continued)
Different common stocks have different weightings in the Index, depending on the amount of stock outstanding and the stock’s current price. In seeking to match the performance of the Index, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) attempts to allocate the Fund’s assets among common stocks in approximately the same weightings as the Index. This is referred to as a passive or indexing approach to investing. The Fund may buy shares of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., an affiliate of the Fund’s investment manager, which is currently included in the Index, subject to certain restrictions.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Index Risk.  The Fund's value will generally decline when the performance of its targeted index declines. In addition, because the Fund may not hold all issues included in its index, it may not always be fully invested. The Fund also bears advisory, administrative and other expenses and transaction costs in trading securities, which the index does not bear. Accordingly, the Fund's performance will likely fail to match the performance of its targeted index, after taking expenses into account. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Tracking Error Risk. The Fund will not track its benchmark index perfectly and the Fund may not outperform the index. The tools that the Investment Manager uses to replicate the index are not perfect and the Fund’s performance may be impacted by the size of the Fund’s portfolio, the effectiveness of sampling techniques, transaction costs, management fees and expenses, brokerage commissions and fees, the extent and timing of cash flows in and out of the Fund and changes in the index.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund (continued)
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 15.79%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -21.84%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 04/25/2011 32.02% 17.52% 7.00%
Class 2 04/25/2011 31.65% 17.33% 6.88%
Class 3 05/01/2000 31.75% 17.45% 6.97%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 7.41%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Alfred Alley III, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Vadim Shteyn   Associate Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 71

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.70% 0.70% 0.70%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.83% 1.08% 0.96%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 85 $265 $460 $1,025
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $110 $343 $595 $1,317
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 98 $306 $531 $1,178
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of large capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which large market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 30 and 35 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 22.65%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -20.72%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Class 1 05/03/2010 38.09% 19.66% 7.43%
Class 2 05/03/2010 37.72% 19.41% 7.24%
Class 3 02/04/2004 37.79% 19.53% 7.37%
Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.53% 16.67% 7.55%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 7.32%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Richard Rosen   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2008
Kari Montanus   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   January 2014
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 75

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.79% 0.79% 0.79%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.20% 0.20% 0.20%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.99% 1.24% 1.12%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $101 $315 $547 $1,213
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $126 $393 $681 $1,500
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $114 $356 $617 $1,363
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $18 million and $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which smaller market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the industrials sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 31.51%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -24.59%
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 5/3/2010 48.55% 23.28% 8.80%
Class 2 5/3/2010 48.22% 23.02% 8.61%
Class 3 9/15/1999 48.39% 23.17% 8.75%
Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   34.52% 17.64% 8.61%
Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   38.82% 20.08% 9.07%
  
Effective May 1, 2014, the Fund compares its performance to that of the Russell 2000 Value Index (the New Index). The Fund’s investment manager made this recommendation to the Fund’s Board of Trustees because the investment manager believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund's performance in light of the changes made to the Fund's principal investment strategies. Information on the new and old benchmarks will be included for a one-year transition period. Thereafter, only the new benchmark will be included.
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Richard Rosen   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2008
Kari Montanus   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   January 2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.36% 0.36% 0.36%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.49% 0.74% 0.62%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $50 $157 $274 $616
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $76 $237 $411 $918
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $63 $199 $346 $774
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 433% (176% excluding mortgage dollar rolls) of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in mortgage-related securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in mortgage-related securities that either are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. This includes, but is not limited to, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) mortgage-backed bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; and Federal National Mortgage
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) mortgage-backed bonds. FNMA and FHLMC are chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress; however, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities.
The Fund’s investments in mortgage-related securities include investments in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market, in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, and/or to obtain or reduce credit exposure.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. The cash flows and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. If prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor in IOs may incur substantial losses. If prepayments of principal are slower than anticipated, the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to May 2013 reflects returns achieved pursuant to a different investment objective and different principal investment strategies.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2006 2.34%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -2.06%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/10 -1.83% 1.98% 1.87%
Class 2 05/03/10 -1.99% 1.76% 1.69%
Class 3 09/15/99 -1.96% 1.88% 1.82%
Barclays U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -1.41% 3.69% 4.61%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jason Callan   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Structured Assets   Co-manager   2012
Tom Heuer, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 85

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return that exceeds the rate of inflation over the long term.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.42% 0.42% 0.42%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.56% 0.81% 0.69%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $57 $179 $313 $ 701
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $83 $259 $450 $1,002
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $70 $221 $384 $ 859
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 97% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in inflation-protected debt securities. These securities include inflation-indexed bonds of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Government and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities, and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The Fund invests only in securities rated investment grade at the time of purchase by a third-party rating agency or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality. Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in sectors outside the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index USD hedged (the Index). The Fund seeks to maintain an average duration that is within +/– 20% of the duration of the Index.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as futures (including bond and interest rate futures), options (including options on listed futures and options on over-the-counter futures), swaps (including interest rate and inflation rate, caps and floors swaps) and forward contracts, including forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund may enter into derivatives for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes, and to increase flexibility.
The portfolio managers may hedge any portion of the non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in the Fund to the U.S. dollar.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The Fund is a non-diversified fund.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to October 2012 reflects returns achieved by the Investment Manager according to different principal investment strategies.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 1st Quarter 2008 4.13%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -5.80%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/3/2010 -5.37% 4.20% 3.85%
Class 2 5/3/2010 -5.61% 3.98% 3.68%
Class 3 9/13/2004 -5.48% 4.08% 3.78%
Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -5.51% 4.92% 4.68%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
    
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Martin Hegarty   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of Inflation-Linked Portfolios of BlackRock   Co-manager   2012
Gargi Pal Chaudhuri   Director and Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.91% 0.91% 0.91%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14% 0.14%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 1.06% 1.31% 1.19%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $108 $337 $585 $1,294
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $133 $415 $718 $1,579
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $121 $378 $654 $1,443
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small cap companies. For these purposes, small cap companies are those that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
Index). The Fund may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $18 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each of the subadvisers employs an active investment strategy that focuses on small companies in an attempt to take advantage of what are believed to be undervalued securities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to June 2008 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 22.43%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -23.49%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/03/2010 35.04% 20.09% 9.51%
Class 2 05/03/2010 34.67% 19.84% 9.35%
Class 3 08/14/2001 34.80% 19.96% 9.45%
Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   34.52% 17.64% 8.61%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
James McClure, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Barrow Hanley   Co-manager   2004
John Harloe, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Barrow Hanley   Co-manager   2004
Subadviser: Denver Investment Advisers LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Troy Dayton, CFA   Partner, Director of Value Research and Portfolio Manager of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Mark Adelmann, CFA, CPA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Derek Anguilm, CFA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Lisa Ramirez, CFA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Subadviser: Donald Smith & Co., Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Donald Smith   Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Donald Smith   Co-manager   2004
Richard Greenberg, CFA   Director of Research and Senior Portfolio Manager of Donald Smith   Co-manager   2004
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
Subadviser: River Road Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
James Shircliff, CFA   Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager and Co-Founder of River Road   Co-manager   2006
R. Andrew Beck   Chief Executive Officer, President, Senior Portfolio Manager and Co-Founder of River Road   Co-manager   2006
J. Justin Akin   Portfolio Manager of River Road   Co-manager   2012
Subadviser: Turner Investments, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Kovacs, CFA   Chief Investment Officer-Quantitative Strategies and Lead Manager of Turner   Manager   2008
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.71% 0.71% 0.71%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13% 0.13%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.05% 0.05% 0.05%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 0.89% 1.14% 1.02%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 91 $284 $493 $1,096
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $116 $362 $628 $1,386
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $104 $325 $563 $1,248
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 29% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in dividend-paying common stocks. The Fund invests in dividend-paying, growth-oriented companies that are believed to exhibit the potential for growth and growing dividend. The Fund may invest in large to medium-sized companies with market capitalizations of at least $2 billion at the time of the Fund’s investment.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund’s performance prior to November 2012 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 2nd Quarter 2009 20.49%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -24.08%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
    1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Class 1 05/03/10 28.48% 15.07% 4.54%
Class 2 05/03/10 28.26% 14.90% 4.44%
Class 3 05/01/06 28.40% 14.97% 4.48%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 6.91%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Sit Investment Associates, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Roger Sit   Chairman, President and CIO of Sit Investment   Lead Manager   2012
Kent Johnson   Senior Vice President-Investments of Sit Investment   Co-manager   2012
Michael Stellmacher   Vice President-Research and Investment Management of Sit Investment   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Victory Established Value Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Victory Established Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Management fees 0.77% 0.77% 0.77%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25% 0.13%
Other expenses 0.12% 0.12% 0.12%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.89% 1.14% 1.02%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 91 $284 $493 $1,096
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $116 $362 $628 $1,386
Class 3 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $104 $325 $563 $1,248
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, the Fund considers mid-cap companies to be those whose market capitalization falls within the range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014.
The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Victory Established Value Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Victory Established Value Fund (continued)
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 3 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The performance of one or more share classes shown in the table below begins before the indicated inception date for such share class. The returns shown for each such share class include the returns of the Fund’s Class 3 shares (adjusted to reflect the higher class-related operating expenses of such classes, where applicable) for periods prior to its inception date. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to November 2012 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 19.46%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -25.96%
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Victory Established Value Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Class 1 05/03/2010 36.02% 19.99% 8.30%
Class 2 05/03/2010 35.66% 19.74% 8.11%
Class 3 02/04/2004 35.87% 19.90% 8.26%
Russell Midcap Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.46% 21.16% 10.18%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Victory Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Gary Miller   Chief Investment Officer, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Equity of Victory Capital   Lead Manager   2012
Jeffrey Graff, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
Gregory Conners   Co-Portfolio Manager of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
James Albers, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager/Research Analyst of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
Michael Rodarte, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager/Research Analyst of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About Columbia VP – Balanced Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (the Fund) seeks maximum total investment return through a combination of capital growth and current income. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in a mix of equity and debt securities. The Fund’s assets are allocated among equity and debt securities (which includes cash and cash equivalents) based on an assessment of the relative risks and returns of each asset class. The Fund generally will invest between 35% and 65% of its net assets in each asset class, and in any event will invest at least 25% and no more than 75% of its net assets in each asset class under normal circumstances.
With respect to its equity securities investments, which may include among other types of equity securities, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, have large market capitalizations (generally over $5 billion).
With respect to its debt securities investments, the Fund invests primarily in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality. These securities include debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, and other debt securities with intermediate- to long-term maturities. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures (including bond futures) and forwards (such as dollar rolls and investments in the To-Be-Announced market, among other forward-settling transactions). The Fund may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging (investment) purposes, including, for example, to seek to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset, as well as to manage duration, yield curve and/or interest rate exposure.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, (the Investment Manager) evaluates the relative attractiveness of each potential investment in constructing the Fund’s portfolio by considering a wide variety of factors which may include, among other factors, valuation, fundamentals, quantitative analysis and economic and market expectations.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the Fund’s asset allocation changes; when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About Columbia VP – Balanced Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
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Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S.
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Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Leonard Aplet, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Short Duration and Stable Value   Co-manager   2011
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Gregory Liechty   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Guy Pope, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Contrarian Core   Co-manager   2011
Ronald Stahl, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Aplet joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1987. Mr. Aplet began his investment career in 1978 and earned a B.S. from Oregon State University and an M.B.A. in finance from the University of California at Berkeley.
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Mr. Lavin joined the Investment Manager in 1994. Mr. Lavin began his investment career in 1986 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Mr. Liechty joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2005. Mr. Liechty began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of North Florida.
Mr. Pope joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1993. Mr. Pope began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.
Mr. Stahl joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1998. Mr. Stahl began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.S. from Oregon State University and an M.B.A. from Portland State University.
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Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with maximum current income consistent with liquidity and stability of principal. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in money market instruments, such as marketable debt obligations issued by corporations or the U.S. Government or its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, and commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks and U.S. Government securities. Additionally, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments.
Because the Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, capital appreciation is not expected to play a role in the Fund’s return. The Fund’s yield will vary from day to day.
The Fund restricts its investments to instruments that meet certain maturity and quality standards required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for money market funds. For example, the Fund:
Invests substantially in securities rated in the highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund is permitted to invest up to 3% of its total assets in securities rated in the second highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) determines comparable quality pursuant to authority delegated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) in policy and procedures adopted in accordance with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Limits its U.S. dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity to 60 days or less and its U.S. dollar-weighted average life to 120 days or less.
Buys obligations with remaining maturities of 397 days or less (as maturity is calculated by SEC rules governing the operation of money market funds).
Buys only obligations that are denominated in U.S. dollars and present minimal credit risk.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the Investment Manager observes the macro environment to set a framework for portfolio construction, including looking for positive and negative trends in the economy and market. The Investment Manager conducts top-down research seeking to identify attractive industries, sectors and/or sub-sectors, and bottom-up, fundamental research to select investments. The Investment Manager:
Considers opportunities and risks given current interest rates and anticipated interest rates.
Purchases securities based on the timing of cash flows in and out of the Fund.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors, whether in its view:
The issuer’s credit rating declines or the Investment Manager expects a decline (the Fund, in certain cases, may continue to own securities that are downgraded until the Investment Manager believes it is advantageous to sell).
The issuer’s fundamentals are deteriorating.
Political, economic, or other events could affect the issuer’s performance.
There are more attractive opportunities.
The issuer or the security continues to meet the other standards described above.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
The principal risks associated with an investment in the Fund include:
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Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund's asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Asset-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit card, auto, student and home equity loans. They may also be backed by securities backed by these types of loans and others, such as mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying debt may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
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Industry Concentration Risk.  Investments that are concentrated in a particular industry will make the Fund’s portfolio value more susceptible to the events or conditions impacting that particular industry. Because the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by banks, the value of the Fund may be adversely affected by economic, political or regulatory developments in or that impact the banking industry.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. A rise in the overall level of interest rates may result in the decline in the prices of fixed-income securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s yield will vary; it is not fixed for a specific period like the yield on a bank certificate of deposit. Falling interest rates may result in a decline in the Fund’s income and yield (since the Fund must then invest in lower-yielding fixed-income securities). Under certain circumstances, the yield decline could cause the Fund’s net yield to be negative (such as when Fund expenses exceed income levels).
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Money Market Fund Risk. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit, and is not insured or guaranteed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager's parent, the FDIC or any other government agency, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, but the net asset values of money market fund shares can fall, and in infrequent cases in the past have fallen, below $1.00 per share, potentially causing shareholders who redeem their shares at such net asset values to lose money from their original investment. If the net asset value of Fund shares were to fall below $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that the Investment Manager or its affiliates would protect the Fund or redeeming shareholders against a loss of principal by, for example, purchasing distressed securities from the Fund, making capital infusions into or entering into a capital support agreement with the Fund or taking other supportive actions.
At times of (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or a few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) insufficient levels of cash in the Fund's portfolio to satisfy redemption activity, and (iii) disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in order to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. Sales of portfolio securities at such times could result in losses to the Fund and cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. Additionally, in some cases, the default of a single portfolio security could cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. In addition, the Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
It is possible that, during periods of low prevailing interest rates or otherwise, the income from portfolio securities may be less than the amount needed to pay ongoing Fund operating expenses and may prevent payment of any dividends or distributions to Fund shareholders or cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. In such cases, the Fund may reduce or eliminate the payment of such dividends or distributions or seek to reduce certain of its operating expenses. There is no guarantee that such actions would enable the Fund to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share.
Regulatory Risk. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation or performance of the Fund. For example, the SEC has proposed amendments to money market regulation, which may have adverse consequences for money market funds, including the Fund. These changes, if adopted, may affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategies, and may impact the Fund’s future operations, performance and/or yields.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
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U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while attempting to conserve the value of the investment for the longest period of time. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing up to 20% of net assets in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling transactions (including securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; options (including options on listed futures) for investment purposes; collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment and hedging purposes; and inverse floaters for investment purposes. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The selection of debt obligations is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by:
Analyzing factors such as credit quality, yield, maturity, call and put features and relative price;
Investing in lower-quality (junk) bonds and foreign investments as attractive opportunities arise;
Targeting a dollar-weighted average maturity of between three to ten years;
Considering factors such as economic conditions, market conditions and interest rate movements when allocating Fund assets among issuers, securities, industry sectors and maturities.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors:
Identification of more attractive investments based on relative value;
The portfolio’s total exposure to sectors, industries, issuers and securities relative to the Index;
Whether its assessment of the credit quality of an issuer has changed or is vulnerable to a change;
Whether a sector or industry is experiencing change.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.
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Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. As short-term interest rates go down, the holders of the inverse floaters receive more income and, as short-term interest rates go up, the holders of the inverse floaters receive less income. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuer’s credit quality. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity
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features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions in inverse floaters include interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), counterparty risk (the risk that the issuer of a security may or will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments when due) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
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High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan
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institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Carl Pappo, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Core Fixed Income   Lead manager   2011
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Michael Zazzarino   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Pappo joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1993. Mr. Pappo began his investment career in 1991 and earned a B.S. from Babson College.
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Mr. Lavin joined the Investment Manager in 1994. Mr. Lavin began his investment career in 1986 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Mr. Zazzarino joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2005. Mr. Zazzarino began his investment career in 1988 and earned a B.S. from Lafayette College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, steady growth of capital. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks. The selection of dividend-paying stocks is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as structured investments (e.g., equity-linked notes), for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objectives, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by applying quantitative screens to determine yield potential. The Investment Manager conducts fundamental research on securities and seeks to purchase potentially attractive securities based on its analysis of various factors, which may include one or more of the following, as well as other, statistical measures:
Current yield;
Dividend growth capability (considering a company’s financial statements and management’s ability to increase the dividend if it chooses to do so) and dividend history;
Balance sheet strength;
Earnings per share and free cash flow sustainability;
Dividend payout ratio.
Preference is generally given to higher dividend-paying companies. The Fund typically uses the S&P 500 Index for dividend yield comparison purposes.
The Investment Manager monitors holding periods, tax qualification and transaction costs with regard to tax consequences.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
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Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Structured Investments Risk. Structured instruments include debt instruments that are collateralized by the underlying cash flows of a pool of financial assets or receivables. Structured investments may be less liquid than other debt securities (or illiquid), and the price of structured investments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on its terms, a structured investment may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured investments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. The Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If structured investments are used to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although
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equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Steven Schroll   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2003
Paul Stocking   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2006
Dean Ramos, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Mr. Schroll joined the Investment Manager in 1998. Mr. Schroll began his investment career in 1981 and earned a B.S. from Drake University and completed work toward an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
Mr. Stocking joined the Investment Manager in 1995. Mr. Stocking began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Ramos joined the Investment Manager in 2000. Mr. Ramos began his investment career in 1992 and earned a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including, but not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks) of companies located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include those countries whose economies are considered to be developing or emerging from underdevelopment.
The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector. However, the Fund has invested substantially in the information technology and technology-related sectors and may continue to invest substantially in these or other sectors in the future. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund may invest in securities that the investment manager believes are undervalued, represent growth opportunities, or both.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
In selecting investments, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers, among other factors:
various measures of valuation, including price-to-cash flow, price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, price-to-book value and discounted cash flow. The Investment Manager believes that companies with lower valuations are generally more likely to provide opportunities for capital appreciation;
potential indicators of stock price appreciation, such as anticipated earnings growth, company restructuring, changes in management, business model changes, new product opportunities, or anticipated improvements in macroeconomic factors;
the financial condition and management of a company, including its competitive position, the quality of its balance sheet and earnings, its future prospects, and the potential for growth and stock price appreciation; and/or
overall economic and market conditions.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the
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level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Markets Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
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Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
From time to time the Investment Manager may engage its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world to provide a variety of services such as, investment research, investment monitoring, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. The Investment Manager expects to engage certain of its Threadneedle Investments affiliates to provide such services. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Investment Manager will bear any
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and all costs of such agreements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, may provide such services to the Fund on behalf of the Investment Manager.
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Dara White, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead Manager   2012
Robert Cameron   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Jasmine (Weili) Huang, CFA, CPA
(U.S. and China), CFM
  Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Mr. White joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2006. Mr. White began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.S. in Finance and a B.S. in Marketing from Boston College.
Mr. Cameron joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2008. He was a portfolio manager and managing member of Cameron Global Investments LLC during the period 2003 to 2008. Mr. Cameron began his investment career in 1983 and earned a B.A. from the University of Toronto.
Ms. Huang joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where she worked as an investment professional since 2003. Ms. Huang began her investment career in 1995 and earned a B.A. from Shenzhen University and an M.B.A. from Willamette University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through income and growth of capital. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in debt obligations of U.S. and foreign issuers. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in investment-grade corporate or government debt obligations, including money market instruments, of issuers located in at least three different countries. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk in seeking to achieve higher dividends and/or capital appreciation by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
In addition, in pursuing its objective, the Fund, relying on quantitative and qualitative analyses, may enter into various currency-, interest rate- and credit-related transactions involving derivatives instruments, including futures contracts (such as currency, bond, treasury, index and interest rate futures) and forward foreign currency contracts (forwards). The use of these derivatives instruments allows the Fund to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected currencies, interest rates and duration risks. The Fund may use these derivatives as well as “to be announced” (TBA) mortgage-backed securities in an effort to produce incremental earnings, for hedging purposes, to obtain increased or decreased exposures to various markets/sectors or to increase investment flexibility. Actual long and short exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by:
Considering opportunities and risks presented by interest rate and currency markets, and the credit quality of debt issuers;
Identifying investment-grade U.S. and foreign bonds;
Identifying below investment-grade U.S. and foreign bonds;
Identifying bonds or other instruments or transactions that can take advantage of currency movements and interest rate differences among nations.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors, whether in its view:
The security is overvalued;
The security continues to meet the standards described above.
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The Investment Manager expresses its investment views by varying long and short exposures to a broad range of debt, currency and interest rate markets of both developed and emerging market countries.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
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Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The effectiveness of any currency strategy by a Fund may be reduced by the Fund's inability to precisely match forward contract amounts and the value of securities involved. Forward foreign currency contracts used for hedging may also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase or decrease in the value of the currency. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
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Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity
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to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund's assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund's obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by
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various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Quantitative Model Risk. The Fund may use quantitative methods to select investments. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market returns, among others. Any errors or imperfections in the Fund portfolio manager’s quantitative analyses or models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the portfolio manager’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Short Positions Risk. The Fund may establish short positions which introduce more risk to the Fund than long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument or other asset) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument or other asset purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument or other asset plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument or other asset when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument or other asset, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument or other asset.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debtholders. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
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Portfolio Management
From time to time the Investment Manager may engage its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world to provide a variety of services such as, investment research, investment monitoring, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. The Investment Manager expects to engage certain of its Threadneedle Investments affiliates to provide such services. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Investment Manager will bear any and all costs of such agreements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, may provide such services to the Fund on behalf of the Investment Manager.
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Nicholas Pifer, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Fixed Income   Co-Manager   2000
Jim Cielinski   Portfolio Manager   Co-Manager   October 2013
Matthew Cobon   Portfolio Manager   Co-Manager   October 2013
Mr. Pifer joined the Investment Manager in 2000. Mr. Pifer began his investment career in 1990 and earned an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Mr. Cielinski joined Threadneedle in 2010 as Head of Fixed Income. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Cielinski was Head of Global Credit – Investment Grade at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Cielinski began his investment career in 1983 and earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Utah and an M.B.A. from New York University.
Mr. Cobon joined Threadneedle in 2011 as a fund manager. Prior to joining Threadneedle, he was the global head of currency fund management at Aberdeen Asset Management/Deutche Asset Management from 2001 to 2011. Mr. Cobon began his investment career in 1996 and earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Warwick (U.K.).
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More Information About Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, capital growth. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield debt instruments (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds or securities). These high yield debt instruments include corporate debt securities as well as floating rate loans rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments of foreign issuers.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities. Floating rate loans, which are another form of financing, are typically secured, with interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate, such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), plus a premium). Secured debt instruments are ordinarily secured by specific collateral or assets of the issuer or borrower such that holders of these instruments will have claims senior to the claims of other parties who hold unsecured instruments.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio managers in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by:
Rigorous, in-house credit research using a proprietary risk and relative value rating system with the goal of generating strong risk-adjusted returns;
A process focused on seeking to identify issuers with improving credit quality characterized by several factors including:
stable and strengthening cash flows,
the ability to de-leverage through free cash flow,
asset valuations supporting debt,
strong management,
strong and sustainable market positioning, and
access to capital;
A top down assessment of broad economic and market conditions to determine quality and industry weightings; and
Review of the legal documentation supporting the loan, including an analysis of the covenants and the rights and remedies of the lender.
In evaluating whether to sell an investment, considerations by the Investment Manager include but are not limited to:
Deterioration in the issuer’s results relative to analyst expectations,
Inability of the issuer to de-leverage,
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Reduced asset coverage for the issuer,
Deterioration in the issuer’s competitive position,
Reduced access to capital for the issuer,
Changes in the issuer’s management,
The Investment Manager’s price target for the security has been achieved, and
The Investment Manager’s assessment of limited relative upside value of the security.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Confidential Information Access Risk. In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager normally will seek to avoid the receipt of material, non-public information (Confidential Information) about the issuers of floating rate loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. In many instances, issuers of floating rate loans offer to furnish Confidential Information to prospective purchasers or holders of the issuer’s floating rate loans to help potential investors assess the value of the loan. The Investment Manager’s decision not to receive Confidential Information from these issuers may disadvantage the Fund as compared to other floating rate loan investors, and may adversely affect the price the Fund pays for the loans it purchases, or the price at which the Fund sells the loans. Further, in situations when holders of floating rate loans are asked, for example, to grant consents, waivers or amendments, the Investment Manager’s ability to assess the desirability of such consents, waivers or amendments may be compromised. For these and other reasons, it is possible that the Investment Manager’s decision under normal circumstances not to receive Confidential Information could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the borrower of a loan or the issuer of another debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and other fixed-income securities to indicate their credit risk. The price of a loan or other debt security generally will fall if the borrower or the issuer defaults on its obligation to pay principal or interest, the rating agencies downgrade the credit rating of the borrower or the issuer or other news affects the market’s perception of the credit risk of the borrower or the issuer. If the issuer of a loan declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay before the Fund can act on the collateral securing the loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan adverse to the holders of the loan, such as invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or
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other debt securities, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Non-investment grade loans or securities (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or securities. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may consist of transactions involving refinancings, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and other financings for general corporate purposes. The Fund’s investments also may include senior obligations of a borrower issued in connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (commonly known as “debtor-in-possession” financings), provided that such senior obligations are determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be a suitable investment for the Fund. In such highly leveraged transactions, the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Such business objectives may include but are not limited to: management’s taking over control of a company (leveraged buy-out); reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a company (leveraged recapitalization); or acquiring another company. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less
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sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price of its investment, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Floating rate loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans also may trade infrequently on the secondary market. The value of the loan to the Fund may be impaired in the event that the Fund needs to liquidate such loans. The inability to purchase or sell floating rate loans and other debt securities at a fair price may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Securities or other assets in which the Fund invests may be traded in the over-the-counter market rather than on an organized exchange and therefore may be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
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Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Jennifer Ponce de Leon   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of High Yield Fixed Income   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Lavin joined the Investment Manager in 1994. Mr. Lavin began his investment career in 1986 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Ms. Ponce de Leon joined the Investment Manager in 1997. Ms. Ponce de Leon began her investment career in 1989 and earned a M.B.A. from DePaul University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high total return through current income and capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s assets are invested primarily in income-producing debt securities, with an emphasis on the higher rated segment of the high-yield (junk bond) market. These income-producing debt securities include corporate debt securities as well as bank loans. The Fund will purchase only securities rated B or above, or if unrated, securities determined to be of comparable quality. If a security falls below a B rating after investment by the Fund, the Fund may continue to hold the security.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities. Floating rate loans, which are another form of financing, are typically secured, with interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate, such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), plus a premium). Secured debt instruments are ordinarily secured by specific collateral or assets of the issuer or borrower such that holders of these instruments will have claims senior to the claims of other parties who hold unsecured instruments.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio manager in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager ) chooses investments using:
Rigorous, in-house credit research using a proprietary risk and relative value rating system with the goal of generating strong risk-adjusted returns;
A process focused on seeking to identify issuers with improving credit quality characterized by several factors including:
stable and strengthening cash flows,
the ability to de-leverage through free cash flow,
asset valuations supporting debt,
strong management,
strong and sustainable market positioning, and
access to capital;
A top down assessment of broad economic and market conditions to determine quality and industry weightings; and
Review of the legal documentation supporting the loan, including an analysis of the covenants and the rights and remedies of the lender.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors:
Deterioration in the issuer’s results relative to analyst expectations,
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Inability of the issuer to de-leverage,
Reduced asset coverage for the issuer,
Deterioration in the issuer’s competitive position,
Reduced access to capital for the issuer,
Changes in the issuer’s management,
The Investment Manager’s price target for the security has been achieved, and
The Investment Manager’s assessment of limited relative upside value of the security.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the borrower of a loan or the issuer of another debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and other fixed-income securities to indicate their credit risk. The price of a loan or other debt security generally will fall if the borrower or the issuer defaults on its obligation to pay principal or interest, the rating agencies downgrade the credit rating of the borrower or the issuer or other news affects the market’s perception of the credit risk of the borrower or the issuer. If the issuer of a loan declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay before the Fund can act on the collateral securing the loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan adverse to the holders of the loan, such as invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or other debt securities, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Non-investment grade loans or securities (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or securities. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may consist of transactions involving refinancings, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and other financings for general corporate purposes. The Fund’s investments also may include senior obligations of a borrower issued in connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (commonly known as “debtor-in-possession” financings), provided that such senior obligations are determined by the Fund’s portfolio manager to be a suitable investment for the Fund. In such highly leveraged transactions, the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Such business objectives may include but are not limited to: management’s taking over control of a company (leveraged buy-out); reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a company (leveraged recapitalization); or acquiring another company. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity
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to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio manager may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio manager may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
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Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio manager primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and ownership by the portfolio manager of Fund shares.
Portfolio Manager
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Lavin, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Manager   2004
Mr. Lavin joined the Investment Manager in 1994. Mr. Lavin began his investment career in 1986 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
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More Information About Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers that are believed to offer strong growth potential. The Fund may invest in developed and in emerging markets.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Threadneedle International Limited (Threadneedle or the Subadviser), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., the parent company of the Investment Manager.
Threadneedle chooses investments for the Fund by:
Deploying an integrated approach to equity research that incorporates regional analyses, an international sector strategy, and stock specific perspectives;
Conducting detailed research on companies in a consistent strategic and macroeconomic framework;
Looking for catalysts of change and identifying the factors driving markets, which will vary over economic and market cycles; and
Implementing rigorous risk control processes that seek to ensure that the risk and return characteristics of the Fund’s portfolio are consistent with established portfolio management parameters.
The Fund’s portfolio management team constructs the portfolio using a Model List of stocks which represents the portfolio management team’s ideas and highest convictions. The portfolio is then constructed from this list along with other securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio managers.
Stocks on the Model List are selected by:
Evaluating the opportunities and risks within regions and sectors;
Assessing valuations; and
Evaluating one or more of the following: balance sheets and cash flows, the demand for a company’s products or services, its competitive position, or its management.
A number of factors may prompt the portfolio management team to sell securities. A sale may result from a change in the composition of the Fund’s benchmark or a change in sector strategy. A sale may also be prompted by factors specific to a stock, such as valuation or company fundamentals.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market
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securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Markets Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (EU), and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with
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which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Threadneedle is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Threadneedle, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since July 2004, is located at 60 St. Mary Axe, London EC3A 8JQ, England. Threadneedle is an affiliate of the Investment Manager, and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. Threadneedle was founded in 1994 and has experience managing investment strategies covering equities, fixed income, real estate, asset allocation and alternatives.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Threadneedle International Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
William Davies   Head of Global Equities and Deputy Head of Equities of Threadneedle   Portfolio Manager   June 2013
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Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Simon Haines, CFA   Fund Manager   Deputy Portfolio Manager   December 2013
Mr. Davies joined Threadneedle in 1994. Prior to assuming his current roles, Mr. Davies was Head of European Equities. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Davies worked for Eagle Star Investments and Hambros Bank. At Hambros Bank Mr. Davies was a European Investment Manager and led the European Equity team. Mr. Davies began his investment career in 1984 and earned a B.A (Hons) in Economics from Exter University.
Mr. Haines, CFA joined Threadneedle in 1999 as a trainee UK fund manager, progressing to fund manager effective January 2005. Mr. Haines began his investment career in 1999 and earned a degree from Oxford University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.15 billion to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that the investment manager believes have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth.
The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies.
A combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management is used in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
In selecting investments, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers, among other factors:
overall economic and market conditions; and
the financial condition and management of a company, including its competitive position, the quality of its balance sheet and earnings, its future prospects, and the potential for growth and stock price appreciation.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with
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investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by
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economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
John Wilson, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2010
Peter Deininger, CFA, CAIA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Wilson was a portfolio manager for Columbia Management Advisors, LLC from 2005 until May 2010 when he joined the Investment Manager in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC. Mr. Wilson began his investment career in 1985 and earned a B.A. from Trinity College and an M.B.A. from Duke University.
Mr. Deininger was a portfolio manager for Columbia Management Advisors, LLC from 2002 until May 2010 when he joined the Investment Manager in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC. Mr. Deininger began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers a variety of factors in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio which may include, among others, the following:
Valuation factors, such as earnings and cash flow relative to market values;
Catalyst factors, such as relative stock price performance, business momentum, and short interest measures; and
Quality factors, such as quality of earnings and financial strength.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when it believes other stocks in the Index or other investments are more attractive, if the security is believed to be overvalued relative to other potential investments, when the company no longer meets the Investment Manager’s performance expectation, when the security is removed from the Index, or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Although the Fund is managed based primarily on quantitative methods, a qualitative review of the quantitative output is conducted by the portfolio managers. Therefore, the Fund’s performance will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make active, qualitative decisions, including allocation decisions that seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative
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instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Quantitative Model Risk. The Fund may use quantitative methods to select investments. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market returns, among others. Any errors or imperfections in the Fund portfolio manager’s quantitative analyses or models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the portfolio manager’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
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Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Condon, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Quantitative Strategies   Co-manager   2010
Oliver Buckley   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Condon joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he was a portfolio manager since 1999. Mr. Condon began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from Bryant University and an M.S. in finance from Bentley University.
Mr. Buckley joined the Investment Manager in July 2011. From 2000 to 2010, Mr. Buckley was Head of Active Equity for Mellon Capital Management. He began his investment career in 1989 and earned a B.S. and M.S. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from University of California, Berkeley.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with growth of capital. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) at the time of purchase in the common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-cap companies are considered to be companies whose market capitalization (number of shares outstanding multiplied by the share price) falls within the market capitalization range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth but may invest in companies for their short, medium or long-term prospects. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance). Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies.
A combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management is used in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers, among other factors:
overall economic and market conditions; and
the financial condition and management of a company, including its competitive position, the quality of its balance sheet and earnings, its future prospects, and the potential for growth and stock price appreciation.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
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Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
George Myers, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2011
Brian Neigut   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
James King   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
William Chamberlain, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
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Mr. Myers joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2004. Mr. Myers began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.B.A. and M.S. in finance from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Mr. Neigut joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2007. Mr. Neigut began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University.
Mr. King joined the Investment Manager in 2011. Prior to 2011, Mr. King was a Senior Equity Analyst for Thrivent Financial. Mr. King began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a M.B.A. in Finance from University of Minnesota.
Mr. Chamberlain joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since he began his career in 1995. Mr. Chamberlain earned a B.B.A. degree in finance from Pacific Lutheran University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies. Medium-sized companies are those whose market capitalizations at the time of purchase fall within the market capitalization range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index) (between $968 million and $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund normally invests in common stocks and also may invest in real estate investment trusts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying value opportunities and constructing the Fund's portfolio.
In selecting investments, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers, among other factors:
businesses that are believed to be fundamentally sound and undervalued due to investor indifference, investor misperception of company prospects, or other factors;
various measures of valuation, including price-to-cash flow, price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, and price-to-book value. The Investment Manager believes that companies with lower valuations are generally more likely to provide opportunities for capital appreciation;
a company’s current operating margins relative to its historic range and future potential; and
potential indicators of stock price appreciation, such as anticipated earnings growth, company restructuring, changes in management, business model changes, new product opportunities or anticipated improvements in macroeconomic factors.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when the security’s price reaches a target set by the Investment Manager; if the Investment Manager believes that there is deterioration in the issuer’s financial circumstances or fundamental prospects, or that other investments are more attractive; or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a
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foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
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The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
From time to time the Investment Manager may engage its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world to provide a variety of services such as, investment research, investment monitoring, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. The Investment Manager expects to engage certain of its Threadneedle Investments affiliates to provide such services. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Investment Manager will bear any and all costs of such agreements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, may provide such services to the Fund on behalf of the Investment Manager.
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Hoffman   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
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Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Diane Sobin, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   September 2013
Mr. Hoffman joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2001. Mr. Hoffman began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.A. from Grinnell College and a Masters from Columbia University.
Ms. Sobin joined Threadneedle in 2011 as a portfolio manager. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Ms. Sobin worked as an investment professional for the Investment Manager or its predecessors from 2001 to 2011. Ms. Sobin began her investment career in 1983 and earned a B.B.A. from Pace University.
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More Information About Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – S& P 500 Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks that comprise the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index (the Index). The Fund may invest in derivatives, consisting of stock index futures, as substitutes for the underlying securities in the Index.
Different common stocks have different weightings in the Index, depending on the amount of stock outstanding and the stock’s current price. In seeking to match the performance of the Index, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) attempts to allocate the Fund’s assets among common stocks in approximately the same weightings as the Index. This is referred to as a passive or indexing approach to investing. The Fund may buy shares of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., an affiliate of the Fund’s investment manager, which is currently included in the Index, subject to certain restrictions.
The Fund attempts to achieve at least a 95% correlation between the performance of the Index and the Fund’s investment results, before fees and expenses. A correlation of 1.00 means the return of the Fund can be completely explained by the return of the Index. The Fund’s ability to track the Index is affected by, among other things, transaction costs and other expenses (which the Index does not incur), changes in the composition of the Index, changes in the number of shares issued by the companies represented in the Index, and by the timing and amount of Fund shareholder purchases and redemptions.
In the event a correlation of 0.95 or better is not achieved, the Fund’s Board of Trustees will consider alternative arrangements.
The Fund may change its target Index for a different index if the current Index is discontinued or if the Board believes a different index would better enable the Fund to match the performance of the market segment represented by the current Index. The substitute index will measure the same general segment of the market as the current Index.
The Investment Manager may sell a stock when the stock’s percentage weighting in the index is reduced, when the stock is removed from the index, if the timing of cash flows in and out of the Fund requires it to sell a security, corporate actions have affected the issuer (such as corporate reorganizations, mergers or acquisitions) or for other reasons.
Although index funds, by their nature, tend to be tax-efficient investments, the Fund generally is managed without regard to tax efficiency.
For more information on investment strategies and the S&P 500, please refer to the SAI. “Standard & Poor’s®”, “S&P”, “S&P 500®” and “Standard & Poor’s 500®” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. These trademarks have been licensed for use by affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Licensors”) and the Licensors make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging
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risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Index Risk.  The Fund's value will generally decline when the performance of its targeted index declines. In addition, because the Fund may not hold all issues included in its index, it may not always be fully invested. The Fund also bears advisory, administrative and other expenses and transaction costs in trading securities, which the index does not bear. Accordingly, the Fund's performance will likely fail to match the performance of its targeted index, after taking expenses into account. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Tracking Error Risk. The Fund will not track its benchmark index perfectly because differences between the index and the Fund’s portfolio can cause differences in performance. The Investment Manager purchases securities and other instruments in an attempt to replicate the performance of the index. However, the tools that the Investment Manager uses to replicate the index are not perfect and the Fund’s performance is affected by factors such as the size of the Fund’s portfolio, the effectiveness of sampling techniques, transaction costs, management fees and expenses, brokerage commissions and fees, the extent and timing of cash flows in and out of the Fund and changes in the index.
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Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Alfred Alley III, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Vadim Shteyn   Associate Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Alley joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2005. Mr. Alley began his investment career in 2000 and earned a B.S. from Northeastern University.
Mr. Shteyn joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2006. Mr. Shteyn began his investment career in 2006.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of large capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which large market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 30 and 35 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use a bottom-up stock selection approach, which means that the they concentrate on individual company fundamentals, rather than on a particular industry, although at times factors that make a particular company attractive may also make other companies within the same industry attractive, and the portfolio managers may invest in these issuers as well. 
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers a variety of factors in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio which may include, among others, the following:
a low price-to-earnings and/or low price-to-book ratio;
positive change in senior management;
positive corporate restructuring;
temporary setback in price due to factors that no longer exist or are ending;
a positive shift in the company’s business cycle; and/or
a catalyst for increase in the rate of the company’s earnings growth.
The Fund generally sells a stock if the Investment Manager believes it has become fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated, or ongoing evaluation reveals that there are more attractive investment opportunities available. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s holdings, remaining sensitive to overvaluation and deteriorating fundamentals.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
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Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund, because it may invest in a limited number of companies, may have more volatility in its net asset value and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Richard Rosen   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2008
Kari Montanus   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   January 2014
Mr. Rosen joined the Investment Manager in November 2008 when it acquired J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (Seligman), where he was a Managing Director. Mr. Rosen began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from New York University.
Ms. Montanus joined the Investment Manager in November 2008 when it acquired Seligman, where she worked as an investment professional since 2003. Ms. Montanus began her investment career in 1990 and earned a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. in finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $18 million and $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which smaller market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use a bottom-up stock selection approach, which means that the they concentrate on individual company fundamentals, rather than on a particular industry, although at times factors that make a particular company attractive may also make other companies within the same industry attractive, and the portfolio managers may invest in these issuers as well. 
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers a variety of factors in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio which may include, among others, the following:
a low price-to-earnings and/or low price-to-book ratio;
positive change in senior management;
positive corporate restructuring;
temporary setback in price due to factors that no longer exist or are ending;
a positive shift in the company’s business cycle; and/or
a catalyst for increase in the rate of the company’s earnings growth.
The Fund generally sells a stock if the Investment Manager believes it has become fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated, or ongoing evaluation reveals that there are more attractive investment opportunities available. The Investment Manager monitors the Fund’s holdings, remaining sensitive to overvaluation and deteriorating fundamentals.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund, because it may invest in a limited number of companies, may have more volatility in its net asset value and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the industrials sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Small Company Securities Risk. Securities of small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger-capitalization companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Richard Rosen   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2008
Kari Montanus   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   January 2014
Mr. Rosen joined the Investment Manager in November 2008 when it acquired J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (Seligman), where he was a Managing Director. Mr. Rosen began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from New York University.
Ms. Montanus joined the Investment Manager in November 2008 when it acquired Seligman, where she worked as an investment professional since 2003. Ms. Montanus began her investment career in 1990 and earned a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. in finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
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More Information About Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, preservation of capital. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in mortgage-related securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in mortgage-related securities that either are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. This includes, but is not limited to, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) mortgage-backed bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) mortgage-backed bonds. FNMA and FHLMC are chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress; however, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities.
The Fund’s investments in mortgage-related securities include investments in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market, in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, and/or to obtain or reduce credit exposure.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by reviewing:
Relative value within the U.S. Government mortgage sector.
The interest rate outlook.
The yield curve.
The yield curve is a graphic representation of the yields of bonds of the same quality but different maturities. A graph showing an upward trend with short-term rates lower than long-term rates is called a positive yield curve, while a downward trend is a negative or inverted yield curve.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors, whether in its view:
The interest rate or economic outlook changes.
The security is overvalued relative to alternative investments.
A more attractive opportunity exists.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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More Information About Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
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More Information About Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed
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More Information About Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. The cash flows and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. If prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor in IOs may incur substantial losses. If prepayments of principal are slower than anticipated, the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
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More Information About Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jason Callan   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Structured Assets   Co-manager   2012
Tom Heuer, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Callan joined the Investment Manager in 2007. Mr. Callan began his investment career in 2004 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
Mr. Heuer joined the Investment Manager in 1993. Mr. Heuer began his investment career in 1993 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
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More Information About VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
Investment Objective
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return that exceeds the rate of inflation over the long term. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in inflation-protected debt securities. These securities include inflation-indexed bonds of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Government and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities, and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The Fund invests only in securities rated investment grade at the time of purchase by a third-party rating agency or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality. Split-rated securities are considered to have the higher credit rating. Split-rated securities are those that receive different credit ratings from two or more rating agencies. Inflation-protected securities are designed to protect the future purchasing power of the money invested in them. The value of the bond’s principal or the interest income paid on the bond is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in sectors outside the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index USD hedged (the Index). The Fund seeks to maintain an average duration that is within +/– 20% of the duration of the Index.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as futures (including bond and interest rate futures), options (including options on listed futures and options on over-the-counter futures), swaps (including interest rate and inflation rate, caps and floors swaps) and forward contracts, including forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund may enter into derivatives for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes, and to increase flexibility.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (BlackRock or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, BlackRock makes purchase and sale decisions using proprietary interest rate and price index models and seasoned professional judgment;
Securities are purchased for the Fund when the management team determines that they have the potential for above average total return;
If a security falls below investment grade, the management team will decide whether to continue to hold the security. A security will be sold or its risks hedged if, in the opinion of the management team, the risk of continuing to hold the security is unattractive when compared to its total return potential;
Fund assets will be allocated among different countries and different market sectors (including different government or corporate issuers) and different maturities based on views of the relative value for each sector or maturity;
Duration and yield curve decisions will be based on fundamental views and quantitative analysis of forward looking interest rate determinants including inflation, real rates, risk premiums and relative supply/demand;
The Fund will target an average portfolio duration within a range of plus or minus 20% of the duration of the Index. BlackRock uses an internal model for calculating duration, which may result in a different value for the duration of a benchmark compared to the duration calculated by the provider of the benchmark or another third party.
The portfolio managers may hedge any portion of the non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in the Fund to the U.S. dollar.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
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The Fund is a non-diversified fund.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may
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buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
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Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the return, based upon an agreed-upon notional value, of a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference based upon an agreed-upon notional value. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates can be described as nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-protected debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-protected debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and may be more volatile than
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interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. Income earned by a shareholder depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation unless the shareholder reinvests the portion of Fund distributions that comes from inflation adjustments.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
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With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debt-holders.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with BlackRock is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
BlackRock, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since October 2012, is located at 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. BlackRock, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Martin Hegarty   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of Inflation-Linked Portfolios of BlackRock   Co-manager   2012
Gargi Pal Chaudhuri   Director and Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2014
Mr. Hegarty joined BlackRock in 2010. Mr. Hegarty has served as Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2010 and Co-head of BlackRock’s Global Inflation-Linked Portfolios since 2010. Prior to joining BlackRock, Mr. Hegarty served as Director of Bank of America Merrill Lynch from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Hegarty began his investment career in 1997 and earned a B.S. with honors from Rhodes University, South Africa.
Ms. Chaudhuri joined BlackRock in 2010. Ms. Chaudhuri has served as a Director and as a portfolio manager on the Inflation-linked Bond Portfolios within Americas Fixed Income Alpha Strategies since 2013. Prior to moving to her current role in 2013, Ms. Chaudhuri was a member of the Global Rates Investment Team within Fixed Income, focusing on nominal Treasuries and
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inflation-linked bond relative value and trade execution. From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Chaudhuri was a Vice President at Jefferies & Co. where she ran the US inflation trading desk. Ms. Chaudhuri began her investment career in 2001 and earned a B.A., magna cum laude, in accounting from Ohio Wesleyan University.
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Investment Objective
VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small cap companies. For these purposes, small cap companies are those that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index). The Fund may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $18 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadvisers: Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (Barrow Hanley), Denver Investment Advisors LLC (Denver Investments), Donald Smith & Co., Inc. (Donald Smith), River Road Asset Management, LLC (River Road) and Turner Investments, L.P. (Turner) (Barrow Hanley, Denver Investments, Donald Smith, River Road and Turner each a Subadviser and collectively, the Subadvisers). The Subadvisers provide day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund. The Investment Manager, subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, decides the proportion of the Fund’s assets to be managed by each Subadviser, and may change these proportions at any time. Each of the Subadvisers acts independently of the others and uses its own methodology for selecting investments. Each of the Subadvisers employs an active investment strategy that focuses on small companies in an attempt to take advantage of what are believed to be undervalued securities.
Barrow Hanley
Barrow Hanley uses a value-added proprietary research process to select small capitalization, low-expectation stocks of companies in which the value of the underlying business is believed to be significantly greater than the market price. This difference in the valuation is referred to as a “value gap.” The value gap is typically indicated by below average P/E ratios (on normalized earnings), above average free cash flow yields, as well as better than market levels of internal growth and return on capital.
Barrow Hanley screens the universe of roughly 1,500 companies that possess characteristics desired by Barrow Hanley. The result is a “Prospect List” of approximately 150 companies on which the Barrow Hanley small cap team undertakes fundamental analysis. Firsthand fundamental research is the foundation of Barrow Hanley’s qualitative analysis. The assumptions and forecasts developed by Barrow Hanley are installed in two real-time models used to ensure consistency and discipline in the investment process — the Cash Flow Yield Model and the Relative Return Model. Stocks that appear undervalued on both models are candidates for purchase. New investment candidates are evaluated against existing holdings and those holdings with the smallest remaining value gap are considered for sale. Barrow Hanley will construct its portion of the Fund’s portfolio from the bottom up, one security at a time. Portfolio holdings in the Barrow Hanley sleeve will average approximately 35-45 stocks with an average weighting of 3% to 5%.
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Denver Investments
Denver Investments’ investment strategy is based on three factors: 1) positive free cash flow and an attractive valuation relative to free cash flow; 2) effective use by management of free cash flow; and 3) a dividend-paying emphasis. Free cash flow is the cash available for the company to create value for shareholders after all cash expenses, taxes and maintenance capital investments are made. The style employs a quantitative model to identify opportunities in the investment universe; however, the process emphasizes independent fundamental research and modeling to analyze securities.
The initial universe consists of dividend-paying public companies within the market capitalization range of the Index. Denver Investments screens this universe with a proprietary, sector-based multi-factor model. The screen aims to identify stocks that are not only inexpensive, but also have fundamentals (revenues, margins, and asset turnover) that are showing early signs of improvement. The most attractively ranked stocks are candidates for fundamental analysis. Denver Investments uses independent fundamental research to identify companies where it believes the early fundamental improvement in free cash flow is sustainable and not yet recognized by the market. In general, stocks with more potential upside based on the estimated intrinsic value are given higher weight.
There are four reasons Denver Investments will sell a stock:
Estimate of intrinsic value is reached;
Changes in fundamentals violate original investment thesis;
More attractive investment ideas are developed; and/or
Stock appreciates out of our market-cap parameters.
Donald Smith
Donald Smith employs a strict bottom-up approach that seeks to invest in stocks of out-of-favor companies selling below tangible book value. Donald Smith looks for companies in the bottom decile of price-to-tangible book value ratios and with a positive outlook for earnings potential over the next 2-4 years. Donald Smith screens about 10,000 companies from various databases. Those companies that meet the criteria are added to the proprietary Watch List, which contains a list of 300 names of low price/ tangible book value stocks. From this Watch List, Donald Smith chooses the most attractive 30-50 names after completing its in-depth research.
Donald Smith will generally sell a stock when it appreciates rapidly, if a better idea is found, or if fundamentals deteriorate.
River Road
River Road selects stocks one at a time based on that stock’s individual, fundamental merits. River Road’s security analysis is conducted in-house using dynamic and systematic research and focuses on identifying the most attractive companies that best meet River Road’s five critical stock characteristics. The first characteristic is that a security be priced at a discount to the assessed absolute value. The second characteristic is an attractive business model. River Road seeks to invest in companies with sustainable, predictable, and understandable business models. The third characteristic is shareholder-oriented management. River Road seeks capable, honest management teams with proven experience and a willingness to assume a material stake in their business. Thus, River Road looks for management ownership, stock buybacks, and value enhancing actions. The fourth characteristic is financial strength. River Road seeks companies with an attractive balance sheet and free cash flow. The fifth characteristic River Road looks for is companies with limited Wall Street analyst coverage that are undiscovered, under-followed, or misunderstood.
There are three general circumstances in which River Road will sell a security:
Position size exceeds risk management guidelines (achieves its price target or becomes too large in the portfolio);
Declining fundamentals (a stock will be sold if its fundamentals turn negative, and/or gives reason to believe it will not achieve River Road’s expectations within an acceptable level of risk); and
Unacceptable losses accumulate.
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Turner
Turner believes that consistent out-performance relative to stated benchmark over a full market cycle may be best achieved by identifying the characteristics that are consistently predictive of future price out-performance by sector, and by investing in companies that exhibit these predictive characteristics. Turner’s investment process involves the use of four steps to evaluate stocks for investment or continued ownership:
Turner uses a proprietary quantitative model to evaluate various factors and identify those that have been predictive of future price performance during the previous three years by economic sector;
Turner then ranks all companies in the universe relative to one another based on the predictive characteristics by sector;
Next, a diversified portfolio of the best ranked companies is constructed by utilizing proprietary portfolio optimization and diversification tools;
The portfolio is rebalanced regularly using program trades that minimize “implementation shortfall” at a minimum cost.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the
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level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small Company Securities Risk. Securities of small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger-capitalization companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value
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assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreements with Barrow Hanley, Denver Investments, Donald Smith, River Road and Turner is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadvisers began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadvisers below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadvisers began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadvisers’ management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadvisers
Barrow Hanley, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since March 2004, is located at 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor, Dallas, Texas. Barrow Hanley, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. Barrow Hanley is an independently-operated subsidiary of Old Mutual Asset Management (US) group of companies.
Denver Investments, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since July 2007, is located at 1225 17th Street, 26th Floor, Denver, Colorado. Denver Investments, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. The research analysts on the Small-Cap Value team listed below are responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund allocated to Denver Investments. These individuals are further supported by dedicated research analysts who all may recommend purchase and sell decisions for the Fund. Every new investment is presented to the Small-Cap Value team, which reviews investment ideas to determine whether that potential investment is attractive and compatible with the Fund’s investment objective. The Small-Cap Value team typically seeks to reach consensus on all investment decisions.
Donald Smith, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since March 2004, is located at 152 West 57th Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York. Donald Smith, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. Donald Smith only has one line of business and thus is able to devote all of its time to managing client assets. This allows portfolio managers to conduct focused, detailed fundamental analysis of companies they invest in.
River Road, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since April 2006, is located at 462 South Fourth Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, Kentucky. River Road, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Turner, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since June 2008, is located at 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100, Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Turner, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
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Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
James McClure, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Barrow Hanley   Co-manager   2004
John Harloe, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Barrow Hanley   Co-manager   2004
Mr. McClure joined Barrow Hanley in 1995 where he established the small cap strategy. Mr. McClure began his investment career in 1972 and earned a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Texas.
Mr. Harloe joined Barrow Hanley in 1995 where he established the small cap strategy. Mr. Harloe began his investment career in 1976 and earned a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.
Subadviser: Denver Investment Advisers LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Troy Dayton, CFA   Partner, Director of Value Research and Portfolio Manager of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Mark Adelmann, CFA, CPA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Derek Anguilm, CFA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Lisa Ramirez, CFA   Partner, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of Denver Investments   Co-manager   2007
Mr. Dayton joined Denver Investments in 2002. Mr. Dayton began his investment career in 1996 and earned a B.S. from Colorado State University.
Mr. Adelmann joined Denver Investments in 1995. Mr. Adelmann began his investment career in 1979 and earned a B.S. from Oral Roberts University.
Mr. Anguilm joined Denver Investments in 2000. Mr. Anguilm began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.S. in Finance at Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Ms. Ramirez joined Denver Investments in 1993. Ms. Ramirez began her investment career in 1997 and earned a B.S. from the University of Colorado at Denver and an M.B.A. from Regis University.
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Subadviser: Donald Smith & Co., Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Donald Smith   Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Donald Smith   Co-manager   2004
Richard Greenberg, CFA   Director of Research and Senior Portfolio Manager of Donald Smith   Co-manager   2004
Mr. Smith has been with Donald Smith since 1980 which he bought in 1983. Mr. Smith began his investment career in 1968 and earned a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Illinois, an M.B.A. from Harvard University and a JD from UCLA Law School.
Mr. Greenberg has been with Donald Smith since 1981. Mr. Greenberg began his investment career in 1981 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from SUNY (Binghamton) with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.B.A. from Wharton Business School.
Subadviser: River Road Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
James Shircliff, CFA   Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager and Co-Founder of River Road   Co-manager   2006
R. Andrew Beck   Chief Executive Officer, President, Senior Portfolio Manager and Co-Founder of River Road   Co-manager   2006
J. Justin Akin   Portfolio Manager of River Road   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Shircliff co-founded River Road in 2005. Mr. Shircliff began his investment career in 1973 and earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Louisville.
Mr. Beck co-founded River Road in 2005. Mr. Beck began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Louisville and an M.B.A. from the F.W. Olin School at Babson College.
Mr. Akin joined River Road in 2005. Mr. Akin began his investment career in 2003 and earned a B.S. in Economics from Centre College.
Subadviser: Turner Investments, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Kovacs, CFA   Chief Investment Officer-Quantitative Strategies and Lead Manager of Turner   Manager   2008
Mr. Kovacs joined Turner in 1998. Mr. Kovacs began his investment career in 1993 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame with a dual major in Finance and Accounting, which is also where he received his dual major bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.
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More Information About VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in dividend-paying common stocks. The Fund invests in dividend-paying, growth-oriented companies that are believed to exhibit the potential for growth and growing dividend. The Fund may invest in large to medium-sized companies with market capitalizations of at least $2 billion at the time of the Fund’s investment.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (Sit Investment or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
The Subadviser considers several factors in its evaluation of a company’s potential for above average long-term earnings, revenue, and dividend growth, including:
a record of paying dividends,
strong prospects for growing dividend payments indicated in part by growing earnings and cash flow,
unique product or service,
growing product demand,
dominant and growing market share,
management experience and capabilities, and
strong financial condition.
When selling securities for the Fund, Sit Investment considers several factors, including changes in a company’s fundamentals, anticipated earnings, anticipated dividend payments and financial position.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions,
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custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure
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has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Sit Investment is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
Sit Investment, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since November 2012, is located at 3300 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. Sit Investment, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Sit Investment Associates, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Roger Sit   Chairman, President and CIO of Sit Investment   Lead Manager   2012
Kent Johnson   Senior Vice President-Investments of Sit Investment   Co-manager   2012
Michael Stellmacher   Vice President-Research and Investment Management of Sit Investment   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Sit joined Sit Investment in 1998. Mr. Sit began his investment career in 1991 and earned a MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Johnson joined Sit Investment in 1989. Mr. Johnson began his investment career in 1993 and earned a MBA from the University of Minnesota.
Mr. Stellmacher joined Sit Investment in 2001. Mr. Stellmacher began his investment career in 1987 and earned a MBA from the University of Minnesota.
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More Information About VP – Victory Established Value Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Victory Established Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, the Fund considers mid-cap companies to be those whose market capitalization falls within the range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014.
The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund may invest in American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Victory Capital Management Inc. (Victory Capital or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
The Fund invests in companies that are expected to benefit from either macroeconomic or company-specific factors, and that are attractively priced relative to their fundamentals.
When selecting investments for the Fund’s portfolio, Victory Capital looks for the following characteristics, among others:
consistent earnings growth;
stable earnings growth combined with dividend yield;
rising earnings prospects;
price-to-book ratios and price-to-earnings ratios that are generally lower than those prevalent in the market; and
the rate at which a stock’s price is rising.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
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The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Victory Capital is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
Victory Capital, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since November 2012, is located at 4900 Tiedeman Road, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144. Victory Capital, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Victory Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Gary Miller   Chief Investment Officer, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Equity of Victory Capital   Lead Manager   2012
Jeffrey Graff, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
Gregory Conners   Co-Portfolio Manager of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
James Albers, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager/Research Analyst of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
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Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Michael Rodarte, CFA   Co-Portfolio Manager/Research Analyst of Victory Capital   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Miller has been associated with Victory Capital since 1987. Mr. Miller is Chief Investment Officer of the Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value products. Mr. Miller began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and an M.B.A. from Xavier University.
Mr. Graff has been associated with Victory Capital since 2001. Mr. Graff began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.B.A. from Cleveland State University and a M.A. from St. Louis University.
Mr. Conners has been associated with Victory Capital since 1999. Mr. Conners began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.S. from the College of Mount St. Joseph and an M.B.A. from Xavier University.
Mr. Albers has been associated with Victory Capital since 2005. Mr. Albers began his investment career in 1997 and earned a B.S. and a M.S. from the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Rodarte has been associated with Victory Capital since 2006. Mr. Rodarte began his investment career in 2006 and earned a B.B.A. from Ohio University.
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References to “the Fund” throughout the remainder of the prospectus refer to the VP Funds singularly or collectively as the context requires.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiamanagement.com. Portfolio holdings are not currently available on the website for all Funds.
Transactions in Derivatives
For all funds except Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because
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the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
For all funds except Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
Investing Defensively
For all funds except Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
For Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions. These investment positions may include, without limitation, holding all or a substantial portion of its assets in cash for as long a period as deemed necessary. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance.
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For all funds except Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information on the Fund's website (columbiamanagement.com) only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI. Portfolio holdings are not currently available on the website for all Funds.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the Fund's website may not always be current.
For all funds except Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund and Columbia VP - S&P 500 Index Fund
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the
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Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
  Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Columbia VP - Balanced Fund 0.845% 1.095% 0.97%
Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund 0.45% 0.70% 0.575%
Columbia VP - Diversified Bond Fund 0.56% 0.81% 0.685%
Columbia VP - Dividend Opportunity Fund 0.77% 1.02% 0.895%
Columbia VP - Emerging Markets Fund 1.25% 1.50% 1.375%
Columbia VP - Global Bond Fund 0.72% 0.97% 0.845%
Columbia VP - High Yield Bond Fund 0.72% 0.97% 0.845%
Columbia VP - Income Opportunities Fund 0.72% 0.97% 0.845%
Columbia VP - International Opportunity Fund 0.99% 1.24% 1.115%
Columbia VP - Large Cap Growth Fund 0.79% 1.04% 0.915%
Columbia VP - Large Core Quantitative Fund 0.77% 1.02% 0.895%
Columbia VP - Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund 0.88% 1.13% 1.005%
Columbia VP - Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund 0.94% 1.19% 1.065%
Columbia VP - S&P 500 Index Fund 0.33% 0.58% 0.455%
Columbia VP - Select Large-Cap Value Fund 0.76% 1.01% 0.885%
Columbia VP - Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0.93% 1.18% 1.055%
Columbia VP - U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 0.62% 0.87% 0.745%
VP - BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund 0.59% 0.84% 0.715%
VP - Partners Small Cap Value Fund 0.88% 1.13% 1.005%
VP - Sit Dividend Growth Fund 0.77% 1.02% 0.895%
VP - Victory Established Value Fund 0.94% 1.19% 1.065%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program,
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dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
For Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund , in addition to any other waiver/reimbursement arrangement, from time to time, the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund for the purpose of allowing the Fund to avoid a negative net yield or to increase the Fund’s positive net yield. The Fund’s yield would be negative if Fund expenses exceed Fund income. Any such expense limitation is voluntary and may be revised or terminated at any time without notice to shareholders and, accordingly, any positive net yield resulting therefrom will cease.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Investment Manager is responsible for the investment management of the Fund, but has delegated certain of its duties, including day-to-day portfolio management of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets of certain Funds to one or more investment subadvisers, as described in this prospectus, that determines what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executes these portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to the amount shown in the table below, as a percent of average daily net assets of the Fund.
    
  Management fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
Columbia VP - Balanced Fund 0.64%
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  Management fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund 0.33%
Columbia VP - Diversified Bond Fund 0.41%
Columbia VP - Dividend Opportunity Fund 0.56%
Columbia VP - Emerging Markets Fund 1.07%
Columbia VP - Global Bond Fund 0.56%
Columbia VP - High Yield Bond Fund 0.58%
Columbia VP - Income Opportunities Fund 0.57%
Columbia VP - International Opportunity Fund 0.79%
Columbia VP - Large Cap Growth Fund 0.68%
Columbia VP - Large Core Quantitative Fund 0.64%
Columbia VP - Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund 0.76%
Columbia VP - Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund 0.74%
Columbia VP - S&P 500 Index Fund 0.10%
Columbia VP - Select Large-Cap Value Fund 0.70%
Columbia VP - Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund 0.79%
Columbia VP - U.S. Government Mortgage Fund 0.36%
VP - BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund 0.42%
VP - Partners Small Cap Value Fund 0.91%
VP - Sit Dividend Growth Fund 0.71%
VP - Victory Established Value Fund 0.77%
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Funds' investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners, Qualified Plan participants and the separate accounts.
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Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the
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Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 shares.
    
  Class 1 Shares Class 2 Shares Class 3 Shares
Eligible Investors Shares of the Fund are available only to separate accounts of participating insurance companies as underlying investments for variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) or other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor.
Investment Limits none none none
Conversion Features none none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none 0.25% 0.125%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsors or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 and Class 3 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25% and the distribution fee for Class 3 shares is 0.125%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. Your product may not offer every share class. The Fund encourages you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and for more information about the share classes offered by the Fund and available under your product. Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts and Qualified Plan sponsors.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners or participants in a Qualified Plan. When you sell your shares through your Contract or Qualified Plan, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract, participant in a Qualified Plan or qualified institutional investor who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or Qualified Plan or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts or the Qualified Plan.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase only through Contracts offered by participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners, and the interests of Qualified Plan participants, if any, may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor, before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract or Qualified Plan. Any charges that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans that may own shares directly, are described in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract or Qualified Plan. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable, for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund reserves the
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer transaction at any time. Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia VP - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Each of Columbia VP – Balanced Fund, Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund, Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund, Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund, Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund, Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund, VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund and VP – Victory Established Value Fund (the Partnership Funds) expects to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes. Each Partnership Fund is not required to and does not expect to make regular distributions to its shareholders (other than in redemption of Fund shares), but may do so in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (or its delegates).
Each of Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund, Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund, Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund, Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund, Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund, Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund, Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund, Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund and VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the RIC Funds) intend to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. Each RIC Fund may make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund — which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you'll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.
Each RIC Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, the Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:
    
  Declarations Distributions
Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund Daily Quarterly
Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund Annually Annually
Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund Quarterly Quarterly
Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund Quarterly Quarterly
Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund Annually Annually
Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund Annually Annually
Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund Quarterly Quarterly
Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund Annually Annually
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Annually Annually
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Distributions and Taxes (continued)
The RIC Funds may, however, declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently. Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution. Each RIC Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions to be paid in cash.
Taxes and Your Investment
Each Partnership Fund expects to be treated as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a Partnership Fund were not to qualify for such treatment, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level, which would reduce the value of an investment in the Fund.
As a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership,” the Fund is not itself subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each shareholder will be required to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes its allocable share of a Fund’s income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other tax items, without regard to whether such shareholder has received or will receive corresponding distributions from the Fund.
Each RIC Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes allocations or distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts, or, for Partnership Funds, if the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership.”
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
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Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Balanced Fund
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.18 $14.16 $13.83 $12.29 $9.89
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.19 0.24 0.25 0.27 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.28 1.78 0.08 1.27 2.11
Total from investment operations 3.47 2.02 0.33 1.54 2.40
Net asset value, end of period $19.65 $16.18 $14.16 $13.83 $12.29
Total return 21.45% 14.26% 2.39% 12.53% 24.23%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.93% 0.92% 0.90% 0.83% 0.73%
Total net expenses (b) 0.89% 0.80% 0.83% 0.83% 0.73%
Net investment income 1.08% 1.57% 1.81% 2.15% 2.75%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $948,462 $847,579 $846,880 $960,000 $1,016,394
Portfolio turnover 129% (c) 127% (c) 192% (c) 156% (c) 208% (c)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(c) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 72%, 77%, 168%, 96% and 164% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b)
Net asset value, end of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Total return 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% (c)
Ratios to average net assets        
Total gross expenses 0.48% 0.47% 0.47% 0.51% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.10% 0.14% 0.15% 0.23% (d)
Net investment income 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $303,071 $324,195 $283,185 $212,830
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.04%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
  Year ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b) 0.00 (b)
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b) (0.00) (b)
Net asset value, end of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Total return 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.02%
Ratios to average net assets        
Total gross expenses 0.73% 0.72% 0.71% 0.76% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.10% 0.14% 0.15% 0.23% (c)
Net investment income 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.00% (b)(c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $20,957 $8,224 $9,774 $3,829
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Cash Management Fund (continued)
  Year ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a)
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a)
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a)
Total from investment operations 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a) 0.00 (a)
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a) (0.00) (a)
Proceeds from regulatory settlements (0.00) (a)
Net asset value, end of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
Total return 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% (b) 0.16% (c)
Ratios to average net assets          
Total gross expenses 0.61% 0.60% 0.59% 0.62% 0.64%
Total net expenses (d) 0.11% 0.14% 0.16% 0.22% 0.47% (e)
Net investment income 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.07%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $378,976 $449,880 $579,896 $621,642 $959,022
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.28%.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.09%.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates agreed to waive/reimburse certain fees and expenses, if applicable, excluding expenses related to the Fund’s participation in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds.
Prospectus 2014 219

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.26 $11.19 $11.00 $11.14
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.30 0.39 0.40 0.28
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.56) 0.44 0.32 0.23
Total from investment operations (0.26) 0.83 0.72 0.51
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.50) (0.46) (0.53) (0.65)
Net realized gains (0.49) (0.30)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.99) (0.76) (0.53) (0.65)
Net asset value, end of period $10.01 $11.26 $11.19 $11.00
Total return (2.25%) 7.70% 6.75% 4.73%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.55% 0.54% 0.55% 0.61% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.55% 0.54% 0.55% 0.61% (c)
Net investment income 2.81% 3.49% 3.66% 3.94% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,868,361 $2,472,928 $2,563,889 $2,224,176
Portfolio turnover 258% (e) 198% (e) 330% (e) 382% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 195%, 181%, 226% and 256% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.22 $11.16 $10.99 $11.14
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.27 0.35 0.38 0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.55) 0.46 0.31 0.24
Total from investment operations (0.28) 0.81 0.69 0.49
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.47) (0.45) (0.52) (0.64)
Net realized gains (0.49) (0.30)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.96) (0.75) (0.52) (0.64)
Net asset value, end of period $9.98 $11.22 $11.16 $10.99
Total return (2.44%) 7.49% 6.47% 4.60%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.81% 0.80% 0.80% 0.85% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.81% 0.80% 0.80% 0.85% (c)
Net investment income 2.56% 3.15% 3.47% 3.44% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $24,527 $30,024 $13,590 $3,422
Portfolio turnover 258% (e) 198% (e) 330% (e) 382% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 195%, 181%, 226% and 256% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.27 $11.20 $11.00 $10.76 $9.80
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.29 0.38 0.39 0.40 0.43
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.56) 0.44 0.32 0.48 0.95
Total from investment operations (0.27) 0.82 0.71 0.88 1.38
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.49) (0.45) (0.51) (0.64) (0.42)
Net realized gains (0.49) (0.30)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.98) (0.75) (0.51) (0.64) (0.42)
Net asset value, end of period $10.02 $11.27 $11.20 $11.00 $10.76
Total return (2.39%) 7.56% 6.68% 8.33% 14.42%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.68% 0.67% 0.68% 0.71% 0.71%
Total net expenses (b) 0.68% 0.67% 0.68% 0.71% 0.71%
Net investment income 2.68% 3.35% 3.53% 3.62% 4.12%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,033,511 $1,485,918 $1,510,737 $1,712,149 $5,577,210
Portfolio turnover 258% (c) 198% (c) 330% (c) 382% (c) 434% (c)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(c) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 195%, 181%, 226%, 256% and 308% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $14.32 $12.55 $13.19 $12.05
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.45 0.40 0.23 0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.39 1.37 (0.87) 1.01
Total from investment operations 3.84 1.77 (0.64) 1.14
Net asset value, end of period $18.16 $14.32 $12.55 $13.19
Total return 26.81% 14.10% (4.85%) 9.46%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.70% 0.69% 0.74% 0.78% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.70% 0.69% 0.74% 0.78% (c)
Net investment income 2.71% 2.89% 1.74% 1.68% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,198,787 $1,803,841 $1,737,503 $1,554,975
Portfolio turnover 71% 64% 41% 26%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $14.21 $12.48 $13.15 $12.05
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.40 0.37 0.22 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.37 1.36 (0.89) 0.99
Total from investment operations 3.77 1.73 (0.67) 1.10
Net asset value, end of period $17.98 $14.21 $12.48 $13.15
Total return 26.53% 13.86% (5.09%) 9.13%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.95% 0.94% 0.97% 1.03% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.95% 0.94% 0.97% 1.03% (c)
Net investment income 2.46% 2.69% 1.71% 1.37% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $33,741 $18,873 $15,653 $1,191
Portfolio turnover 71% 64% 41% 26%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
224 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $14.26 $12.51 $13.17 $11.27 $8.84
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.42 0.38 0.20 0.17 0.20
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.39 1.37 (0.86) 1.73 2.23
Total from investment operations 3.81 1.75 (0.66) 1.90 2.43
Net asset value, end of period $18.07 $14.26 $12.51 $13.17 $11.27
Total return 26.72% 13.99% (5.01%) 16.83% 27.46%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.82% 0.82% 0.86% 0.90% 0.76%
Total net expenses (b) 0.82% 0.82% 0.86% 0.90% 0.76%
Net investment income 2.58% 2.74% 1.57% 1.42% 2.14%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,262,372 $1,134,402 $1,222,104 $1,572,800 $3,857,317
Portfolio turnover 71% 64% 41% 26% 49%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 225

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.18 $13.82 $17.95 $15.68
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.12 0.10 0.15 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.38) 2.67 (3.83) 2.33
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.01
Total from investment operations (0.26) 2.78 (3.68) 2.40
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.11) (0.08) (0.20) (0.13)
Net realized gains (0.34) (0.25)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.11) (0.42) (0.45) (0.13)
Net asset value, end of period $15.81 $16.18 $13.82 $17.95
Total return (1.59%) 20.67% (b) (20.90%) 15.48%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.30% 1.29% (d) 1.32% 1.37% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 1.25% 1.27% (d) 1.32% 1.37% (e)
Net investment income 0.75% 0.69% 0.96% 0.71% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $676,275 $592,820 $500,581 $490,399
Portfolio turnover 83% 150% 100% 86%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.06%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.14 $13.79 $17.92 $15.68
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) 0.07 0.06 0.12 (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.38) 2.67 (3.83) 2.41
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.01
Total from investment operations (0.31) 2.74 (3.71) 2.37
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.08) (0.05) (0.17) (0.13)
Net realized gains (0.34) (0.25)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.08) (0.39) (0.42) (0.13)
Net asset value, end of period $15.75 $16.14 $13.79 $17.92
Total return (1.87%) 20.36% (b) (21.10%) 15.24%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.55% 1.54% (d) 1.57% 1.56% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 1.50% 1.52% (d) 1.57% 1.56% (e)
Net investment income (loss) 0.48% 0.42% 0.78% (0.33%) (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $14,758 $8,806 $4,635 $2,050
Portfolio turnover 83% 150% 100% 86%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.06%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Emerging Markets Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.18 $13.81 $17.94 $15.20 $8.76
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.10 0.08 0.13 0.11 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.40) 2.68 (3.83) 2.85 6.42
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.01
Total from investment operations (0.30) 2.77 (3.70) 2.96 6.48
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.09) (0.06) (0.18) (0.22) (0.04)
Net realized gains (0.34) (0.25)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.09) (0.40) (0.43) (0.22) (0.04)
Proceeds from regulatory settlements 0.00 (a)
Net asset value, end of period $15.79 $16.18 $13.81 $17.94 $15.20
Total return (1.80%) 20.59% (b) (21.02%) 19.76% 74.08%
Ratios to average net assets (c)          
Total gross expenses 1.42% 1.42% (d) 1.44% 1.45% 1.42%
Total net expenses (e) 1.38% 1.40% (d) 1.44% 1.45% 1.42%
Net investment income 0.66% 0.56% 0.83% 0.73% 0.52%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $318,715 $371,291 $368,548 $557,231 $911,711
Portfolio turnover 83% 150% 100% 86% 145% (f)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.06%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(f) The aggregate cost of securities purchased for purposes of portfolio turnover excludes $41,979,743 for securities received at value on February 13, 2009 in exchange for Fund shares issued.
228 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.20 $11.85 $11.70 $11.41
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.30 0.34 0.39 0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.19) 0.41 0.18 0.50
Total from investment operations (0.89) 0.75 0.57 0.75
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.64) (0.34) (0.36) (0.46)
Net realized gains (0.07) (0.06) (0.06)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.71) (0.40) (0.42) (0.46)
Net asset value, end of period $10.60 $12.20 $11.85 $11.70
Total return (7.60%) 6.43% 4.92% 6.72%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.73% 0.71% 0.75% 0.85% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.72% 0.71% 0.75% 0.85% (c)
Net investment income 2.69% 2.80% 3.24% 3.35% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $556,739 $1,168,704 $1,197,612 $1,086,905
Portfolio turnover 46% 42% 50% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.19 $11.83 $11.69 $11.41
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.28 0.31 0.35 0.22
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.19) 0.42 0.19 0.51
Total from investment operations (0.91) 0.73 0.54 0.73
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.64) (0.31) (0.34) (0.45)
Net realized gains (0.07) (0.06) (0.06)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.71) (0.37) (0.40) (0.45)
Net asset value, end of period $10.57 $12.19 $11.83 $11.69
Total return (7.83%) 6.29% 4.62% 6.54%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.98% 0.96% 0.99% 1.11% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.98% 0.96% 0.99% 1.10% (c)
Net investment income 2.53% 2.55% 2.95% 2.90% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $9,899 $9,792 $5,578 $1,827
Portfolio turnover 46% 42% 50% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Global Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.21 $11.85 $11.70 $11.50 $10.50
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.29 0.32 0.37 0.45 0.31
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.20) 0.42 0.19 0.29 0.88
Total from investment operations (0.91) 0.74 0.56 0.74 1.19
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.64) (0.32) (0.35) (0.54) (0.19)
Net realized gains (0.07) (0.06) (0.06)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.71) (0.38) (0.41) (0.54) (0.19)
Net asset value, end of period $10.59 $12.21 $11.85 $11.70 $11.50
Total return (7.79%) 6.38% 4.78% 6.58% 11.38%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.86% 0.83% 0.88% 0.95% 0.97%
Total net expenses (b) 0.85% 0.83% 0.88% 0.95% 0.96%
Net investment income 2.61% 2.68% 3.13% 3.87% 2.78%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $293,552 $419,392 $456,088 $520,055 $1,676,097
Portfolio turnover 46% 42% 50% 66% 77%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.22 $6.74 $6.94 $7.09
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.43 0.46 0.49 0.34
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.56 (0.10) 0.16
Total from investment operations 0.43 1.02 0.39 0.50
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.50) (0.54) (0.59) (0.65)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.50) (0.54) (0.59) (0.65)
Net asset value, end of period $7.15 $7.22 $6.74 $6.94
Total return 6.19% 15.87% 5.82% 7.98%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.76% 0.75% 0.73% 0.75% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.72% 0.74% 0.73% 0.75% (c)
Net investment income 5.94% 6.55% 7.23% 7.70% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $7 $7 $6 $5
Portfolio turnover 63% 75% 76% 88%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.18 $6.71 $6.93 $7.09
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.41 0.44 0.47 0.30
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.01 0.56 (0.10) 0.18
Total from investment operations 0.42 1.00 0.37 0.48
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.49) (0.53) (0.59) (0.64)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.49) (0.53) (0.59) (0.64)
Net asset value, end of period $7.11 $7.18 $6.71 $6.93
Total return 5.98% 15.62% 5.46% 7.79%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.01% 1.00% 1.01% 1.05% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.97% 0.98% 1.01% 1.05% (c)
Net investment income 5.70% 6.29% 6.98% 6.83% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $24,968 $16,469 $6,894 $2,132
Portfolio turnover 63% 75% 76% 88%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – High Yield Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.21 $6.73 $6.93 $6.71 $4.84
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.42 0.45 0.49 0.52 0.55
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.56 (0.11) 0.34 1.94
Total from investment operations 0.42 1.01 0.38 0.86 2.49
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.49) (0.53) (0.58) (0.64) (0.62)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.49) (0.53) (0.58) (0.64) (0.62)
Net asset value, end of period $7.14 $7.21 $6.73 $6.93 $6.71
Total return 6.07% 15.74% 5.68% 13.96% 53.86%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.89% 0.87% 0.88% 0.88% 0.86%
Total net expenses (b) 0.85% 0.86% 0.88% 0.88% 0.86%
Net investment income 5.81% 6.43% 7.08% 7.65% 9.43%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $569,123 $623,113 $596,351 $677,780 $727,045
Portfolio turnover 63% 75% 76% 88% 102%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.51 $10.02 $10.69 $11.25
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.52 0.64 0.70 0.51
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.06) 0.78 (0.04) 0.23
Total from investment operations 0.46 1.42 0.66 0.74
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (1.38) (0.71) (1.03) (1.30)
Net realized gains (0.59) (0.22) (0.30)
Tax return of capital (0.29)
Total distributions to shareholders (2.26) (0.93) (1.33) (1.30)
Net asset value, end of period $8.71 $10.51 $10.02 $10.69
Total return 5.09% 14.97% 6.42% 7.68%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.72% 0.71% 0.72% 0.78% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.71% 0.71% 0.72% 0.78% (c)
Net investment income 5.59% 6.16% 6.76% 7.47% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $808,379 $755,648 $983,282 $842,202
Portfolio turnover 56% 68% 66% 77%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.46 $9.98 $10.67 $11.25
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.49 0.60 0.66 0.47
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.04) 0.79 (0.03) 0.24
Total from investment operations 0.45 1.39 0.63 0.71
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (1.34) (0.69) (1.02) (1.29)
Net realized gains (0.59) (0.22) (0.30)
Tax return of capital (0.29)
Total distributions to shareholders (2.22) (0.91) (1.32) (1.29)
Net asset value, end of period $8.69 $10.46 $9.98 $10.67
Total return 5.01% 14.72% 6.17% 7.44%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.97% 0.96% 0.97% 1.01% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.78% 0.96% 0.96% 1.01% (c)
Net investment income 5.54% 5.86% 6.54% 6.87% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $139,973 $9,657 $4,704 $929
Portfolio turnover 56% 68% 66% 77%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
236 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Income Opportunities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.53 $10.04 $10.71 $10.71 $7.99
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.51 0.62 0.69 0.81 0.84
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.06) 0.79 (0.05) 0.47 2.46
Total from investment operations 0.45 1.41 0.64 1.28 3.30
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (1.35) (0.70) (1.01) (1.28) (0.58)
Net realized gains (0.59) (0.22) (0.30)
Tax return of capital (0.29)
Total distributions to shareholders (2.23) (0.92) (1.31) (1.28) (0.58)
Net asset value, end of period $8.75 $10.53 $10.04 $10.71 $10.71
Total return 5.02% 14.80% 6.26% 13.04% 42.41%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.85% 0.84% 0.85% 0.86% 0.88%
Total net expenses (b) 0.84% 0.83% 0.85% 0.86% 0.88%
Net investment income 5.45% 6.01% 6.63% 7.38% 8.63%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $215,401 $262,909 $236,367 $251,747 $2,003,909
Portfolio turnover 56% 68% 66% 77% 70%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 237

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.09 $10.44 $12.09 $10.67
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.21 0.18 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.51 1.63 (1.66) 1.49
Total from investment operations 2.67 1.84 (1.48) 1.52
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.23) (0.19) (0.17) (0.10)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.23) (0.19) (0.17) (0.10)
Net asset value, end of period $14.53 $12.09 $10.44 $12.09
Total return 22.35% 17.85% (12.37%) 14.47%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.00% 0.99% 1.01% 1.11% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.00% 0.99% 1.01% 1.11% (c)
Net investment income 1.24% 1.89% 1.56% 0.47% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $16,809 $16,421 $15,957 $6
Portfolio turnover 88% 66% 64% 76%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
238 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.07 $10.43 $12.07 $10.67
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) 0.11 0.19 0.15 (0.09)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.52 1.62 (1.64) 1.59
Total from investment operations 2.63 1.81 (1.49) 1.50
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.20) (0.17) (0.15) (0.10)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.20) (0.17) (0.15) (0.10)
Net asset value, end of period $14.50 $12.07 $10.43 $12.07
Total return 22.09% 17.49% (12.51%) 14.24%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.26% 1.24% 1.27% 1.41% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.25% 1.24% 1.27% 1.41% (c)
Net investment income (loss) 0.84% 1.66% 1.29% (1.15%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $7,624 $3,620 $2,529 $534
Portfolio turnover 88% 66% 64% 76%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – International Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.09 $10.44 $12.08 $10.77 $8.58
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.15 0.20 0.16 0.08 0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.50 1.63 (1.64) 1.38 2.19
Total from investment operations 2.65 1.83 (1.48) 1.46 2.33
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.22) (0.18) (0.16) (0.15) (0.14)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.22) (0.18) (0.16) (0.15) (0.14)
Proceeds from regulatory settlements 0.00 (a)
Net asset value, end of period $14.52 $12.09 $10.44 $12.08 $10.77
Total return 22.16% 17.70% (12.42%) 13.89% 27.54% (b)
Ratios to average net assets (c)          
Total gross expenses 1.13% 1.12% 1.17% 1.13% 1.16%
Total net expenses (d) 1.13% 1.12% 1.17% 1.13% 1.16%
Net investment income 1.10% 1.76% 1.33% 0.78% 1.57%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $404,795 $375,844 $385,473 $527,737 $561,691
Portfolio turnover 88% 66% 64% 76% 90%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) The Fund received proceeds from regulatory settlements. Had the Fund not received these proceeds, the total return would have been lower by 0.04%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.95 $6.61 $6.82 $6.34
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.37 1.29 (0.24) 0.46
Total from investment operations 2.42 1.34 (0.21) 0.48
Net asset value, end of period $10.37 $7.95 $6.61 $6.82
Total return 30.44% 20.27% (3.08%) 7.57%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.81% 0.88% 0.89% 0.83% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.79% 0.78% 0.77% 0.83% (c)
Net investment income 0.55% 0.64% 0.51% 0.60% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,166,312 $46,512 $44,092 $5
Portfolio turnover 93% 102% 104% 152%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.90 $6.58 $6.81 $6.34
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.34 1.29 (0.25) 0.45
Total from investment operations 2.37 1.32 (0.23) 0.47
Net asset value, end of period $10.27 $7.90 $6.58 $6.81
Total return 30.00% 20.06% (3.38%) 7.41%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.06% 1.13% 1.15% 1.09% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.04% 1.03% 1.02% 1.09% (c)
Net investment income 0.28% 0.43% 0.26% 0.50% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $14,196 $9,741 $7,907 $320
Portfolio turnover 93% 102% 104% 152%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.93 $6.60 $6.82 $5.82 $4.25
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.36 1.29 (0.23) 0.98 1.54
Total from investment operations 2.40 1.33 (0.22) 1.00 1.57
Net asset value, end of period $10.33 $7.93 $6.60 $6.82 $5.82
Total return 30.26% 20.15% (3.23%) 17.16% 37.00%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.94% 1.00% 0.99% 0.93% 0.80%
Total net expenses (b) 0.92% 0.91% 0.92% 0.93% 0.80%
Net investment income 0.40% 0.52% 0.21% 0.34% 0.71%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $224,919 $194,870 $188,852 $233,165 $240,404
Portfolio turnover 93% 102% 104% 152% 152%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $23.24 $20.38 $19.34 $18.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.39 0.38 0.32 0.20
Net realized and unrealized gain 7.46 2.48 0.72 1.14
Total from investment operations 7.85 2.86 1.04 1.34
Net asset value, end of period $31.09 $23.24 $20.38 $19.34
Total return 33.78% 14.03% 5.38% 7.45%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.79% 0.80% 0.85% 0.84% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.79% 0.77% 0.78% 0.84% (c)
Net investment income 1.37% 1.68% 1.60% 1.77% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $618,147 $6 $6 $5
Portfolio turnover 69% 87% 57% 87%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $23.09 $20.30 $19.32 $18.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain 7.40 2.45 0.66 1.15
Total from investment operations 7.73 2.79 0.98 1.32
Net asset value, end of period $30.82 $23.09 $20.30 $19.32
Total return 33.48% 13.74% 5.07% 7.33%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.04% 1.05% 1.08% 1.11% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.04% 1.04% 1.00% 1.11% (c)
Net investment income 1.21% 1.51% 1.61% 1.46% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,723 $1,101 $254 $32
Portfolio turnover 69% 87% 57% 87%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $23.15 $20.33 $19.32 $16.46 $13.26
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.35 0.35 0.29 0.23 0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain 7.44 2.47 0.72 2.63 2.94
Total from investment operations 7.79 2.82 1.01 2.86 3.20
Net asset value, end of period $30.94 $23.15 $20.33 $19.32 $16.46
Total return 33.65% 13.87% 5.23% 17.37% 24.13%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.92% 0.93% 0.96% 0.94% 0.71%
Total net expenses (b) 0.92% 0.90% 0.91% 0.94% 0.71%
Net investment income 1.31% 1.54% 1.45% 1.36% 1.87%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,404,866 $1,211,173 $1,229,110 $1,373,003 $1,393,213
Portfolio turnover 69% 87% 57% 87% 70%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
246 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.78 $12.37 $14.55 $13.30
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.03) 0.06 (0.01) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.32 1.35 (2.17) 1.26
Total from investment operations 4.29 1.41 (2.18) 1.25
Net asset value, end of period $18.07 $13.78 $12.37 $14.55
Total return 31.13% 11.40% (14.98%) 9.40%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.90% 0.93% 0.92% 0.81% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.87% 0.88% 0.92% 0.81% (c)
Net investment income (loss) (0.21%) 0.44% (0.08%) (0.09%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $226,579 $216,944 $5 $5
Portfolio turnover 115% 134% 165% 100%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.69 $12.32 $14.53 $13.30
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment loss (0.06) (0.01) (0.03) (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.29 1.38 (2.18) 1.26
Total from investment operations 4.23 1.37 (2.21) 1.23
Net asset value, end of period $17.92 $13.69 $12.32 $14.53
Total return 30.90% 11.12% (15.21%) 9.25%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.15% 1.18% 1.18% 1.09% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.12% 1.15% 1.18% 1.09% (c)
Net investment loss (0.40%) (0.04%) (0.25%) (0.31%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $9,455 $921 $572 $134
Portfolio turnover 115% 134% 165% 100%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
248 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.73 $12.34 $14.53 $11.51 $7.04
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.05) 0.00 (a) (0.03) (0.02) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.31 1.39 (2.16) 3.04 4.48
Total from investment operations 4.26 1.39 (2.19) 3.02 4.47
Net asset value, end of period $17.99 $13.73 $12.34 $14.53 $11.51
Total return 31.03% 11.26% (15.07%) 26.28% 63.39%
Ratios to average net assets (b)          
Total gross expenses 1.03% 1.05% 1.03% 0.99% 1.07%
Total net expenses (c) 1.00% 1.03% 1.03% 0.99% 1.07%
Net investment income (loss) (0.34%) 0.02% (0.20%) (0.19%) (0.15%)
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $307,835 $270,346 $292,116 $407,945 $380,078
Portfolio turnover 115% 134% 165% 100% 126%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 249

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.91 $10.04 $10.96 $9.92
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.10 0.12 0.08 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.41 1.75 (1.00) 0.98
Total from investment operations 4.51 1.87 (0.92) 1.04
Net asset value, end of period $16.42 $11.91 $10.04 $10.96
Total return 37.87% 18.63% (8.39%) 10.48%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.88% (c) 0.88% 0.87% 0.85% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.87% (c) 0.88% 0.87% 0.85% (d)
Net investment income 0.68% 1.08% 0.77% 0.94% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $535,980 $839,959 $856,802 $720,087
Portfolio turnover 58% 53% 59% 80%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.84 $10.01 $10.95 $9.92
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.07 0.10 0.06 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.38 1.73 (1.00) 0.96
Total from investment operations 4.45 1.83 (0.94) 1.03
Net asset value, end of period $16.29 $11.84 $10.01 $10.95
Total return 37.58% 18.28% (8.58%) 10.38%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.14% (c) 1.13% 1.13% 1.12% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.12% (c) 1.13% 1.13% 1.12% (d)
Net investment income 0.51% 0.91% 0.62% 1.02% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $8,656 $1,906 $1,078 $321
Portfolio turnover 58% 53% 59% 80%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.87 $10.02 $10.95 $8.94 $6.34
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.08 0.11 0.06 0.06 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.40 1.74 (0.99) 1.95 2.50
Total from investment operations 4.48 1.85 (0.93) 2.01 2.60
Net asset value, end of period $16.35 $11.87 $10.02 $10.95 $8.94
Total return 37.74% 18.46% (8.49%) 22.51% 40.93%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.01% (b) 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 0.85%
Total net expenses (c) 1.00% (b) 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 0.85%
Net investment income 0.59% 0.97% 0.57% 0.65% 1.48%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $120,409 $93,055 $99,525 $137,110 $242,390
Portfolio turnover 58% 53% 59% 80% 39%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(c) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
252 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 (a)
Per share data      
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.12 $8.75 $9.17
Income from investment operations:      
Net investment income 0.21 0.18 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.03 1.19 (0.53)
Total from investment operations 3.24 1.37 (0.42)
Net asset value, end of period $13.36 $10.12 $8.75
Total return 32.02% 15.66% (4.58%)
Ratios to average net assets (b)      
Total gross expenses 0.31% 0.33% 0.38% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.31% 0.33% 0.38% (c)
Net investment income 1.77% 1.90% 1.87% (c)
Supplemental data      
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $21 $16 $25
Portfolio turnover 4% 4% 4%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 25, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund (continued)
  Year ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 (a)
Per share data      
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.08 $8.74 $9.17
Income from investment operations:      
Net investment income 0.18 0.17 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.01 1.17 (0.53)
Total from investment operations 3.19 1.34 (0.43)
Net asset value, end of period $13.27 $10.08 $8.74
Total return 31.65% 15.33% (4.69%)
Ratios to average net assets (b)      
Total gross expenses 0.56% 0.57% 0.62% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.56% 0.57% 0.62% (c)
Net investment income 1.52% 1.72% 1.62% (c)
Supplemental data      
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $16,371 $14,910 $15,826
Portfolio turnover 4% 4% 4%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 25, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – S&P 500 Index Fund (continued)
  Year ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.11 $8.75 $8.61 $7.51 $5.96
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.19 0.18 0.14 0.12 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.02 1.18 (0.00) (a) 0.98 1.43
Total from investment operations 3.21 1.36 0.14 1.10 1.55
Net asset value, end of period $13.32 $10.11 $8.75 $8.61 $7.51
Total return 31.75% 15.54% 1.63% 14.71% 26.00%
Ratios to average net assets (b)          
Total gross expenses 0.44% 0.44% 0.53% 0.54% 0.50%
Total net expenses (c) 0.44% 0.44% 0.53% 0.53% 0.50%
Net investment income 1.65% 1.86% 1.55% 1.58% 1.93%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $252,295 $195,032 $188,271 $216,264 $220,257
Portfolio turnover 4% 4% 4% 22% 31%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.71 $9.88 $10.04 $9.55
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.19 0.21 0.12 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.27 1.62 (0.28) 0.42
Total from investment operations 4.46 1.83 (0.16) 0.49
Net asset value, end of period $16.17 $11.71 $9.88 $10.04
Total return 38.09% 18.52% (1.59%) 5.13%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.83% 0.84% (c) 0.98% 0.94% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.77% 0.80% (c) 0.84% 0.94% (d)
Net investment income 1.34% 1.91% 1.21% 1.17% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $738,487 $569,837 $2,932 $5
Portfolio turnover 15% 17% 25% 4%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.64 $9.85 $10.03 $9.55
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.15 0.16 0.11 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.24 1.63 (0.29) 0.43
Total from investment operations 4.39 1.79 (0.18) 0.48
Net asset value, end of period $16.03 $11.64 $9.85 $10.03
Total return 37.72% 18.17% (1.79%) 5.03%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.08% 1.15% (c) 1.27% 1.26% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.01% 1.06% (c) 1.10% 1.22% (d)
Net investment income 1.09% 1.45% 1.08% 0.77% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $5,475 $1,643 $757 $199
Portfolio turnover 15% 17% 25% 4%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.67 $9.85 $10.02 $8.31 $6.59
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.17 0.16 0.11 0.08 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.24 1.66 (0.28) 1.63 1.62
Total from investment operations 4.41 1.82 (0.17) 1.71 1.72
Net asset value, end of period $16.08 $11.67 $9.85 $10.02 $8.31
Total return 37.79% 18.48% (1.70%) 20.52% 26.12%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.96% 1.04% (b) 1.10% 1.11% 1.24%
Total net expenses (c) 0.89% 0.93% (b) 0.99% 1.08% 1.05%
Net investment income 1.21% 1.47% 1.05% 0.89% 1.40%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $60,335 $30,991 $29,825 $29,721 $14,841
Portfolio turnover 15% 17% 25% 4% 16%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(c) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.44 $10.55 $11.52 $10.40
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment loss (0.06) (0.02) (0.03) (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 6.10 1.91 (0.94) 1.16
Total from investment operations 6.04 1.89 (0.97) 1.12
Net asset value, end of period $18.48 $12.44 $10.55 $11.52
Total return 48.55% 17.92% (8.42%) 10.77%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.99% 1.01% 0.98% 1.09% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.93% 0.94% 0.96% 1.09% (c)
Net investment loss (0.40%) (0.21%) (0.27%) (0.58%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $80,983 $63,490 $61,631 $6
Portfolio turnover 16% 6% 13% 5%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.36 $10.50 $11.50 $10.40
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment loss (0.10) (0.05) (0.06) (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 6.06 1.91 (0.94) 1.15
Total from investment operations 5.96 1.86 (1.00) 1.10
Net asset value, end of period $18.32 $12.36 $10.50 $11.50
Total return 48.22% 17.71% (8.70%) 10.58%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.24% 1.26% 1.24% 1.36% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.18% 1.19% 1.21% 1.33% (c)
Net investment loss (0.64%) (0.46%) (0.52%) (0.66%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $21,186 $14,236 $12,858 $190
Portfolio turnover 16% 6% 13% 5%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.40 $10.53 $11.51 $9.08 $6.49
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.08) (0.04) (0.05) (0.07) (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 6.08 1.91 (0.93) 2.50 2.63
Total from investment operations 6.00 1.87 (0.98) 2.43 2.59
Net asset value, end of period $18.40 $12.40 $10.53 $11.51 $9.08
Total return 48.39% 17.76% (8.51%) 26.79% 39.81%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.11% 1.13% 1.13% 1.21% 1.09%
Total net expenses (b) 1.05% 1.06% 1.10% 1.20% 1.09%
Net investment loss (0.52%) (0.34%) (0.45%) (0.76%) (0.56%)
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $91,762 $65,937 $68,550 $88,168 $78,895
Portfolio turnover 16% 6% 13% 5% 6%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.49 $10.43 $10.38 $10.30
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.20 0.10 0.10 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.39) 0.08 0.06 0.12
Total from investment operations (0.19) 0.18 0.16 0.19
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.08) (0.12) (0.11) (0.11)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.08) (0.12) (0.11) (0.11)
Net asset value, end of period $10.22 $10.49 $10.43 $10.38
Total return (1.83%) 1.69% 1.51% 1.83%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.49% 0.50% 0.55% 0.63% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.49% 0.50% 0.55% 0.63% (c)
Net investment income 1.94% 0.92% 1.01% 1.09% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,731,407 $1,243,687 $854,906 $733,781
Portfolio turnover 433% (e) 238% (e) 92% (e) 323% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 176%, 109%, 66% and 203% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.46 $10.39 $10.36 $10.30
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.07 0.08 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.37) 0.08 0.04 0.11
Total from investment operations (0.21) 0.15 0.12 0.16
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.05) (0.08) (0.09) (0.10)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.05) (0.08) (0.09) (0.10)
Net asset value, end of period $10.20 $10.46 $10.39 $10.36
Total return (1.99%) 1.47% 1.21% 1.59%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.74% 0.75% 0.76% 0.89% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.74% 0.75% 0.76% 0.89% (c)
Net investment income 1.59% 0.65% 0.81% 0.75% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $26,089 $32,395 $33,867 $1,985
Portfolio turnover 433% (e) 238% (e) 92% (e) 323% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 176%, 109%, 66% and 203% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.49 $10.42 $10.37 $10.17 $9.95
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.18 0.08 0.09 0.12 0.21
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.39) 0.09 0.05 0.18 0.33
Total from investment operations (0.21) 0.17 0.14 0.30 0.54
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.06) (0.10) (0.09) (0.10) (0.32)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.06) (0.10) (0.09) (0.10) (0.32)
Net asset value, end of period $10.22 $10.49 $10.42 $10.37 $10.17
Total return (1.96%) 1.62% 1.38% 3.00% 5.53%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.62% 0.63% 0.68% 0.76% 0.76%
Total net expenses (b) 0.62% 0.63% 0.68% 0.76% 0.76%
Net investment income 1.69% 0.78% 0.87% 1.15% 2.12%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $206,903 $304,109 $344,031 $417,768 $519,208
Portfolio turnover 433% (c) 238% (c) 92% (c) 323% (c) 428% (c)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(c) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 176%, 109%, 66%, 203% and 350% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.56 $9.58 $9.54 $9.61
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.07 0.20 0.36 0.21
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.58) 0.35 0.55 (0.02)
Total from investment operations (0.51) 0.55 0.91 0.19
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.00) (b) (0.45) (0.74) (0.24)
Net realized gains (0.31) (0.12) (0.13) (0.02)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.31) (0.57) (0.87) (0.26)
Net asset value, end of period $8.74 $9.56 $9.58 $9.54
Total return (5.37%) 5.86% 10.08% 2.06%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 0.56% 0.55% 0.56% 0.58% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.56% 0.55% 0.56% 0.58% (d)
Net investment income 0.80% 2.09% 3.81% 3.34% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,765,508 $2,635,289 $2,546,875 $2,209,105
Portfolio turnover 97% 61% 66% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.52 $9.55 $9.52 $9.61
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.05 0.17 0.31 0.39
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.58) 0.35 0.59 (0.22)
Total from investment operations (0.53) 0.52 0.90 0.17
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.43) (0.74) (0.24)
Net realized gains (0.31) (0.12) (0.13) (0.02)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.31) (0.55) (0.87) (0.26)
Net asset value, end of period $8.68 $9.52 $9.55 $9.52
Total return (5.61%) 5.61% 9.91% 1.80%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.81% 0.80% 0.81% 0.81% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.81% 0.80% 0.81% 0.81% (c)
Net investment income 0.57% 1.79% 3.31% 6.34% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $6,693 $9,443 $5,016 $1,227
Portfolio turnover 97% 61% 66% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.56 $9.59 $9.54 $9.40 $10.06
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.06 0.19 0.35 0.19 0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.58) 0.33 0.56 0.20 0.50
Total from investment operations (0.52) 0.52 0.91 0.39 0.63
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net investment income (0.43) (0.73) (0.23) (1.29)
Net realized gains (0.31) (0.12) (0.13) (0.02) (0.00) (a)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.31) (0.55) (0.86) (0.25) (1.29)
Net asset value, end of period $8.73 $9.56 $9.59 $9.54 $9.40
Total return (5.48%) 5.61% 10.03% 4.13% 6.84%
Ratios to average net assets (b)          
Total gross expenses 0.68% 0.68% 0.68% 0.70% 0.71%
Total net expenses (c) 0.68% 0.68% 0.68% 0.70% 0.71%
Net investment income 0.66% 1.95% 3.70% 1.96% 1.41%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $198,342 $299,702 $319,854 $330,937 $2,348,120
Portfolio turnover 97% 61% 66% 66% 135%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Rounds to zero.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.61 $14.62 $15.28 $14.34
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.08 0.18 0.06 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.74 1.81 (0.72) 0.89
Total from investment operations 5.82 1.99 (0.66) 0.94
Net asset value, end of period $22.43 $16.61 $14.62 $15.28
Total return 35.04% 13.61% (4.32%) 6.56%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.05% 1.06% 1.04% 1.11% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.89% 0.94% 1.01% 1.09% (c)
Net investment income 0.40% 1.12% 0.38% 0.56% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,673,954 $1,428,971 $1,260,436 $1,168,661
Portfolio turnover 69% 60% 58% 57%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Expense ratios include the impact of a performance incentive adjustment, if any. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.50 $14.56 $15.25 $14.34
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.03 0.15 0.02 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.69 1.79 (0.71) 0.88
Total from investment operations 5.72 1.94 (0.69) 0.91
Net asset value, end of period $22.22 $16.50 $14.56 $15.25
Total return 34.67% 13.32% (4.52%) 6.35%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.31% 1.31% 1.29% 1.31% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.14% 1.19% 1.26% 1.31% (c)
Net investment income 0.15% 0.99% 0.16% 0.33% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,715 $1,730 $804 $484
Portfolio turnover 69% 60% 58% 57%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Expense ratios include the impact of a performance incentive adjustment, if any. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $16.55 $14.58 $15.26 $12.26 $8.98
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.05 0.15 0.04 0.02 0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.71 1.82 (0.72) 2.98 3.24
Total from investment operations 5.76 1.97 (0.68) 3.00 3.28
Net asset value, end of period $22.31 $16.55 $14.58 $15.26 $12.26
Total return 34.80% 13.51% (4.46%) 24.43% 36.55%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.18% 1.18% 1.16% 1.22% 1.27%
Total net expenses (b) 1.01% 1.07% 1.13% 1.22% 1.26%
Net investment income 0.28% 0.95% 0.24% 0.14% 0.43%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $211,018 $200,780 $220,667 $284,055 $1,321,826
Portfolio turnover 69% 60% 58% 57% 58%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) Expense ratios include the impact of a performance incentive adjustment, if any. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.71 $9.65 $10.00 $9.54
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.22 0.15 0.10 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.83 0.91 (0.45) 0.40
Total from investment operations 3.05 1.06 (0.35) 0.46
Net asset value, end of period $13.76 $10.71 $9.65 $10.00
Total return 28.48% 10.98% (3.50%) 4.82%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.84% 0.84% 0.82% 0.82% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.77% 0.78% 0.78% 0.82% (c)
Net investment income 1.74% 1.41% 1.01% 0.98% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,454,206 $893,849 $1,276,709 $1,348,356
Portfolio turnover 29% 85% 21% 32%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.65 $9.63 $9.99 $9.54
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.18 0.13 0.07 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.83 0.89 (0.43) 0.39
Total from investment operations 3.01 1.02 (0.36) 0.45
Net asset value, end of period $13.66 $10.65 $9.63 $9.99
Total return 28.26% 10.59% (3.60%) 4.72%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.09% 1.09% 1.08% 0.88% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.02% 1.03% 1.03% 0.88% (c)
Net investment income 1.49% 1.25% 0.76% 1.04% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $4,593 $2,124 $1,330 $472
Portfolio turnover 29% 85% 21% 32%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.67 $9.64 $9.99 $8.96 $6.82
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.20 0.14 0.09 0.03 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.83 0.89 (0.44) 1.00 2.09
Total from investment operations 3.03 1.03 (0.35) 1.03 2.14
Net asset value, end of period $13.70 $10.67 $9.64 $9.99 $8.96
Total return 28.40% 10.68% (3.50%) 11.52% 31.33%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.96% 0.96% 0.94% 1.05% 0.94%
Total net expenses (b) 0.90% 0.90% 0.90% 1.05% 0.94%
Net investment income 1.62% 1.30% 0.89% 0.35% 0.64%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $59,983 $53,529 $61,213 $79,768 $2,022,696
Portfolio turnover 29% 85% 21% 32% 21%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Victory Established Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.27 $10.48 $11.18 $10.44
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.11 0.14 0.09 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.31 1.65 (0.79) 0.68
Total from investment operations 4.42 1.79 (0.70) 0.74
Net asset value, end of period $16.69 $12.27 $10.48 $11.18
Total return 36.02% 17.08% (6.26%) 7.09%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.89% (c) 0.90% 0.90% 0.92% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.88% (c) 0.87% 0.90% 0.92% (d)
Net investment income 0.74% 1.18% 0.77% 0.92% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,006,504 $951,190 $840,305 $886,881
Portfolio turnover 45% 151% 76% 85%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates agreed to waive/reimburse certain fees and expenses, before giving effect to any performance incentive adjustment, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Victory Established Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.20 $10.44 $11.17 $10.44
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.08 0.12 0.07 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.27 1.64 (0.80) 0.66
Total from investment operations 4.35 1.76 (0.73) 0.73
Net asset value, end of period $16.55 $12.20 $10.44 $11.17
Total return 35.66% 16.86% (6.53%) 6.99%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.15% (c) 1.15% 1.16% 1.19% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.13% (c) 1.12% 1.16% 1.19% (d)
Net investment income 0.54% 1.00% 0.67% 0.98% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $7,189 $3,690 $2,068 $527
Portfolio turnover 45% 151% 76% 85%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 3, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates agreed to waive/reimburse certain fees and expenses, before giving effect to any performance incentive adjustment, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Victory Established Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 3 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.24 $10.47 $11.18 $9.17 $6.72
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.09 0.12 0.07 0.06 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.30 1.65 (0.78) 1.95 2.35
Total from investment operations 4.39 1.77 (0.71) 2.01 2.45
Net asset value, end of period $16.63 $12.24 $10.47 $11.18 $9.17
Total return 35.87% 16.91% (6.35%) 21.87% 36.47%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.02% (b) 1.02% 1.03% 1.14% 1.56%
Total net expenses (c) 1.01% (b) 1.00% 1.03% 1.05% 1.17%
Net investment income 0.64% 1.04% 0.64% 0.64% 1.36%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $21,928 $16,153 $15,072 $16,108 $13,938
Portfolio turnover 45% 151% 76% 85% 99%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(c) The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates agreed to waive/reimburse certain fees and expenses, before giving effect to any performance incentive adjustment, if applicable.
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For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies and participants in Qualified Plans. Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6466-99 AJ (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Variable Portfolio Funds

    
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund
Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
(Prior to March 21, 2014, known as Variable Portfolio –
American Century Growth Fund)
Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
(Prior to March 21, 2014, known as Variable Portfolio –
PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund)
Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

  
Each above-named Columbia Variable Portfolio and Variable Portfolio Fund (each a “VP Fund” or a “Fund” and together the “VP Funds” or the “Funds”) may offer Class 1 and Class 2 to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and certain other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Funds.
Pyramis ® is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Used under license.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Variable Portfolio Funds
Table of Contents
SUMMARIES OF THE FUNDS Investment Objective(s), Fees and Expenses of the Fund, Principal Investment Strategies, Principal Risks, Performance Information, Fund Management, Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Tax Information, Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries.  

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Variable Portfolio Funds Table of Contents

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Prospectus 2014 3

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio (VP) – Limited Duration Credit Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a level of current income consistent with preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.46% 0.46%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.59% 0.84%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $60 $189 $329 $ 738
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $86 $268 $466 $1,037
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds. The Fund will primarily invest in debt securities with short- and intermediate-term maturities generally similar to those included in the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index (the Index). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund targets an average portfolio duration within one year of the duration of the Index which, as of March 31, 2014 was 2.89 years.
4 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Prospectus 2014 5

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 3rd Quarter 2012 2.52%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -1.65%
6 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 1.44% 3.48%
Class 2 5/7/2010 1.19% 3.22%
Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   1.52% 3.79%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Tom Murphy, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Grade Credit   Co-manager   2010
Timothy Doubek, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Royce D. Wilson, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 7

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees (a) 0.44% 0.44%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.57% 0.82%
(a) Management fees have been restated to reflect contractual changes to the investment management fee rates.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $58 $183 $318 $ 714
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $84 $262 $455 $1,014
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 186% (54% excluding mortgage dollar rolls) of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and certain U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Ginnie Mae is supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Securities issued or guaranteed by other U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. However, they are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as credit default swaps, forward contracts (such as dollar rolls, pair-offs and investments in the To-Be-Announced market) and forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, and to increase market exposure and investment flexibility.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Prospectus 2014 9

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 3rd Quarter 2011 3.22%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -2.72%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 -2.45% 3.55%
Class 2 5/7/2010 -2.71% 3.30%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: American Century Investment Management, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Robert Gahagan   Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century (Macro Strategy Team Representative)   Co-manager   2010
Alejandro Aguilar, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
Prospectus 2014 11

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Houston, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
Brian Howell   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
G. David MacEwen   Co-Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President of American Century (Macro Strategy Team Representative)   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.91% 0.91%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.21% 0.21%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.12% 1.37%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $114 $356 $617 $1,363
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $139 $434 $750 $1,646
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its total assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional
Prospectus 2014 13

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
14 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 14.68%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -17.93%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 22.32% 13.60%
Class 2 05/07/2010 22.02% 13.35%
S&P Global ex-U.S. Cap Range Companies Between USD500 Million to USD5 Billion Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   16.77% 11.40%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Louis J. Mendes, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2010
Christopher J. Olson, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2010
Prospectus 2014 15

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
16 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.85% 0.85%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.15% 0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.00% 1.25%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $102 $318 $552 $1,225
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $127 $397 $686 $1,511
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of U.S. companies.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial
Prospectus 2014 17

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (continued)
investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments.
The Subadviser believes that stocks of companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher return potential than stocks of larger companies.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
18 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 17.07%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -22.75%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 35.18% 17.98%
Class 2 5/7/2010 34.72% 17.68%
Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   38.82% 18.75%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Robert A. Mohn, CFA   Portfolio Manager, Analyst and Domestic Chief Investment Officer of CWAM   Lead manager   2010
David L. Frank, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Prospectus 2014 19

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
20 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – DFA International Value Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – DFA International Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.84% 0.84%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.00% 1.25%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $102 $318 $552 $1,225
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $127 $397 $686 $1,511
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large non-U.S. companies associated with developed markets that the Fund’s portfolio managers determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in companies in three or more non-U.S. developed market countries.
Prospectus 2014 21

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – DFA International Value Fund (continued)
Investments for the Fund will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Fund’s portfolio pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Fund will receive dividend income.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts for equity securities and indices to gain market exposure on uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions, and forward foreign currency contracts in connection with the settlement of equity trades or the exchange of one currency for another.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
22 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – DFA International Value Fund (continued)
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value
Prospectus 2014 23

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – DFA International Value Fund (continued)
assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to November 2011 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 3rd Quarter 2013 13.61%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -23.98%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 20.04% 7.13%
Class 2 05/07/2010 19.80% 6.85%
MSCI World ex-USA Value Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   21.47% 11.44%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Karen Umland, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
Jed Fogdall   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
24 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – DFA International Value Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Joseph Chi, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
Henry Gray   Vice President and Head of Global Equity Trading of DFA   Co-manager   2012
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 25

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.63% 0.63%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.79% 1.04%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 81 $252 $439 $ 978
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $106 $331 $574 $1,271
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 95% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in income producing floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities. These debt obligations will generally be rated non-investment grade by recognized rating agencies (similar to “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund invests in senior floating rate loans of borrowers (Senior Loans). The Fund may also purchase secured and unsecured subordinated loans, second lien loans and subordinate bridge loans (Junior Loans), or other floating rate debt securities, fixed income debt securities and money market instruments. For purposes of the 80% policy, money market holdings with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days will be deemed floating rate assets.
26 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Floating rate loans are debt obligations of companies and other similar entities that have interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate (such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR) plus a premium). Floating rate loans are typically structured and administered by a financial institution that acts as the agent of the lenders participating in the floating rate loan. The Fund may acquire loans directly through the agent or from another holder of the loan by assignment. They are generally valued on a daily basis by independent pricing services.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Prospectus 2014 27

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (continued)
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may include highly leveraged transactions whereby the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price of its investment, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Floating rate loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may trade infrequently, and their value may be impaired when the Fund needs to liquidate such loans. Loans or other assets may trade only in the over-the-counter market rather than on an organized exchange and may be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
28 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (continued)
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 3.05%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -2.55%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 4.13% 4.65%
Class 2 05/07/2010 3.92% 4.16%
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   5.29% 5.80%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Eaton Vance Management
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Scott Page, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Craig Russ   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Andrew Sveen, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Prospectus 2014 29

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
30 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.63% 0.63%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.76% 1.01%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 78 $243 $422 $ 942
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $103 $322 $558 $1,236
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 116% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Prospectus 2014 31

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund invests primarily in U.S. companies. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 45 and 60 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
32 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to March 2013 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Prospectus 2014 33

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 15.77%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -16.84%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 31.29% 16.25%
Class 2 05/07/2010 30.95% 15.97%
Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.48% 18.53%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Holland Capital Management LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Monica Walker   Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Holland   Co-manager   2013
Carl Bhathena   Senior Equity Analyst (Technology) and Portfolio Manager of Holland   Co-manager   2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
34 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 35

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Invesco International Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Invesco International Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.83% 0.83%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.15% 0.15%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.98% 1.23%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $100 $312 $542 $1,201
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $125 $390 $676 $1,489
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 30% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets are primarily invested in equity securities and depositary receipts of foreign issuers. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in securities of companies located in at least three countries outside the U.S., which may include significant investment in companies in the developed countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Basin. The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities that provide exposure to emerging markets. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers of any market capitalization, including both large- and mid-capitalization issuers. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
36 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure, and futures contracts (including index futures) to seek exposure to the broad market in connection with managing cash balances or to hedge against downside risk. The Fund may also hold warrants in connection with the acquisition of securities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value, as well being subject to liquidity risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Prospectus 2014 37

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (continued)
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
38 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 3rd Quarter 2013 10.79%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -17.94%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 19.13% 11.80%
Class 2 5/7/2010 18.89% 11.52%
MSCI EAFE Growth Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   22.55% 12.86%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Clas Olsson   CIO of Invesco’s International Growth Investment Management Unit and Lead Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Lead Manager   2010
Brent Bates, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2013
Prospectus 2014 39

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Shuxin Cao, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Matthew Dennis, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Jason Holzer, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Mark Jason, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2011
Richard Nield, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
40 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while conserving the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.44% 0.44%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.57% 0.82%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $58 $183 $318 $ 714
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $84 $262 $455 $1,014
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. Although the Fund is not an index fund, it invests primarily in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The Fund does not expect to invest in securities rated below investment grade, although it may hold securities that, subsequent to the Fund’s investment, have been downgraded to a below investment grade rating.
Prospectus 2014 41

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
42 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (continued)
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Prospectus 2014 43

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 3rd Quarter 2011 2.87%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -2.31%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 -2.23% 3.61%
Class 2 5/7/2010 -2.49% 3.35%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Douglas Swanson   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2010
Christopher Nauseda   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2010
Peter Simons, CFA   Executive Director and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
44 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 45

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.12% 0.12%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.87% 1.12%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 89 $278 $482 $1,073
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $114 $356 $617 $1,363
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 37% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization that falls within the range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.1 billion to $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector.
46 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Prospectus 2014 47

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 14.30%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -15.66%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 28.00% 16.16%
Class 2 5/7/2010 27.69% 15.84%
Russell Midcap Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   35.74% 19.31%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Jennison Associates LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
John Mullman, CFA   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Jennison   Manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
48 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 49

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.64% 0.64%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.12% 0.12%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.76% 1.01%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 78 $243 $422 $ 942
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $103 $322 $558 $1,236
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 73% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts.
50 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (continued)
The Fund will not concentrate its assets in any single industry but may from time to time invest more than 25% of its assets in companies conducting business in various industries within an economic sector. The Fund will typically invest in a limited number of companies.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Prospectus 2014 51

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (continued)
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to March 2014 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 15.88%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -14.92%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 29.65% 15.00%
Class 2 5/7/2010 29.39% 14.72%
Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.48% 18.53%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Aziz Hamzaogullari, CFA   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Loomis Sayles   Manager   March 2014
52 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – MFS Value Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – MFS Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.62% 0.62%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.12% 0.12%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.74% 0.99%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 76 $237 $411 $ 918
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $101 $315 $547 $1,213
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets are invested primarily in equity securities. The Fund invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are believed to be undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies). Value companies tend to have stock prices that are low relative to their earnings, dividends, assets, or other financial measures.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – MFS Value Fund (continued)
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, equity interests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and depositary receipts for such securities. While the Fund may invest its assets in companies of any size, the Fund generally focuses on large-capitalization companies. Large-capitalization companies are defined by the Fund as those companies with market capitalizations of at least $5 billion at the time of purchase.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance
Prospectus 2014 55

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – MFS Value Fund (continued)
companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – MFS Value Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 12.41%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -15.34%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 35.81% 15.62%
Class 2 5/7/2010 35.48% 15.34%
Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.53% 16.90%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Nevin Chitkara   Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of MFS   Co-manager   2010
Steven Gorham   Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of MFS   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – MFS Value Fund (continued)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.93% 0.93%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.17% 0.17%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.10% 1.35%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $112 $350 $606 $1,340
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $137 $428 $739 $1,624
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of non-U.S. small cap companies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of non-U.S. small cap companies.
The Fund’s subadviser is an active, value-oriented, defensive manager that emphasizes small-cap opportunities for the Fund. The subadviser considers small cap companies to be those companies whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, falls within the range of companies in the MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (the Index). The Index is composed of stocks which are categorized as small capitalization stocks and is designed to measure equity performance in 23 global developed markets,
Prospectus 2014 59

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (continued)
excluding the U.S. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $26 million to $9 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may also invest in emerging markets. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to defensively hedge the currency of existing positions. The Fund also may purchase foreign currency in order to purchase foreign securities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (continued)
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the industrials sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 13.61%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -18.44%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 15.80% 14.93%
Class 2 5/7/2010 15.42% 14.62%
MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   25.55% 13.68%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Dr. Ormala Krishnan   Chief Investment Officer Small Cap Equities of Mondrian   Co-manager   2010
Frances Cuthbert, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager of Mondrian   Co-manager   2012
Aidan Nicholson, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager of Mondrian   Co-manager   2012
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income and capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.85% 0.85%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.19% 0.19%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.04% 1.29%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $106 $331 $574 $1,271
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $131 $409 $708 $1,556
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 25% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies in the real estate industry located throughout the world (Global Real Estate Companies). The Fund will invest primarily in companies in the real estate industry located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets. A company is considered to be in the real estate industry if it (i) derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from the ownership, construction, management, financing or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate or (ii) has at least 50% of the fair market value
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (continued)
of its assets invested in residential, commercial or industrial real estate. Companies in the real estate industry include, among others, real estate operating companies (REOCs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and similar entities formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in Global Real Estate Companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. As a result, the Fund may make substantial investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended. Because the value of REITs and other real estate-related companies may fluctuate widely in response to changes in factors affecting the real estate markets, the value of an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than the value of an investment in a fund that is invested in a more diverse range of market sectors.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 14.33%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -20.22%
66 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 5/7/2010 3.28% 10.36%
Class 2 5/7/2010 3.05% 10.08%
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Developed Real Estate Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   4.39% 12.59%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Theodore Bigman   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Inc.   Co-manager   2010
Michiel te Paske   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Limited   Co-manager   2010
Sven van Kemenade   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Limited   Co-manager   2010
Angeline Ho   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Company   Co-manager   2010
Bill Grant   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Inc.   Co-manager   2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 67

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital and income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.62% 0.62%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.75% 1.00%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 77 $240 $417 $ 930
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $102 $318 $552 $1,225
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 29% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies that pay or are expected to pay dividends.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund also may invest in real estate investment trusts.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by
Prospectus 2014 69

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (continued)
borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
70 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year*
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 4th Quarter 2011 12.17%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -14.11%
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 28.14% 15.69%
Class 2 05/07/2010 27.71% 15.40%
Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.53% 16.90%
  
Prospectus 2014 71

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (continued)
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: NFJ Investment Group LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Benno Fischer, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Analyst and Founding Partner of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Paul Magnuson   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
R. Burns McKinney, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Thomas Oliver, CFA, CPA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Morley Campbell, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2013
L. Baxter Hines, CFA   Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2011
Jeff Reed, CFA   Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2011
John R. Mowrey, CFA   Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   May 2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.64% 0.64%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.12% 0.12%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.76% 1.01%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 78 $243 $422 $ 942
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $103 $322 $558 $1,236
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies with a market capitalization in excess of $4 billion at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector.
Prospectus 2014 73

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to November 2010 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 17.43%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -15.40%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life
Class 1 05/07/2010 36.57% 16.92%
Class 2 05/07/2010 36.21% 16.61%
Russell 1000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.48% 18.53%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Winslow Capital Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Justin Kelly, CFA   Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Patrick Burton, CFA   Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Clark Winslow   Chief Executive Officer and Founder   Co-manager   2010
Prospectus 2014 75

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.87% 0.87%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.03% 1.28%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $105 $328 $569 $1,259
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $130 $406 $702 $1,545
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 53% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in the equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of purchase, of up to $2.5 billion, or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $61 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each subadviser employs an active investment strategy.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s performance prior to November 2012 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 13.95%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -19.67%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 40.23% 18.00%
Class 2 05/07/2010 39.89% 17.69%
Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   43.30% 21.01%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Sammy Oh   Senior Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of Palisade   Manager   2012
Subadviser: The London Company of Virginia
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Stephen Goddard, CFA   President, Chief Investment Officer, Lead Portfolio Manager and Founder of TLC   Lead Manager   2010
Jonathan Moody, CFA   Principal and Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2010
J. Brian Campbell, CFA   Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2010
Prospectus 2014 79

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Mark DeVaul, CFA, CPA   Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2011
Subadviser: Wells Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Joseph Eberhardy, CFA, CPA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Thomas Ognar, CFA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Bruce Olson, CFA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.84% 0.84%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.00% 1.25%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $102 $318 $552 $1,225
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $127 $397 $686 $1,511
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers, located or traded in countries other than the U.S., that are believed to offer strong growth potential. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests its assets in common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations fall within the range of the companies that comprise the MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $665 million to $242.95 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Prospectus 2014 81

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 12.27%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -21.03%
Prospectus 2014 83

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 21.51% 11.57%
Class 2 05/07/2010 21.27% 11.27%
MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   22.78% 12.35%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Cesar Hernandez, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Pyramis   Manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.47% 0.47%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.14% 0.14%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.61% 0.86%
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (a) (0.03%) (0.03%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements 0.58% 0.83%
(a) Effective April 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee for assets up to $1 billion, unless sooner terminated in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire as indicated in the preceding table, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the other examples. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $59 $192 $337 $ 759
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $85 $271 $474 $1,058
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 1,233% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities, including debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, bank loans and other obligations. The Fund invests at least 60% of its net assets in debt securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity or duration at the Fund level.
Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign investments, which may include investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, as well as investments in emerging markets securities. In connection with its strategy relating to foreign investments, the Fund may buy or sell foreign currencies in lieu of or in addition to non-dollar denominated fixed-income securities in order to increase or decrease its exposure to foreign interest rate and/or currency markets.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including currency, fixed income, index and interest rate futures), forward foreign currency contracts, forward rate agreements, options (including options on currencies, interest rates and swap agreements, which are commonly referred to as swaptions), swap contracts (including swaps on fixed income futures and credit default, cross-currency, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments, including instruments commonly known as mortgage derivatives, such as inverse floaters, To Be Announced (TBA) securities, and interest-only (IO), principal-only (PO), inverse IO and tiered index bonds. The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market or credit exposure and investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security, currency or other asset), and/or to manage duration and yield curve of the Fund. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. These transactions involve risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and interest rate risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions include interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks
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Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund's assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund's obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that
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Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The Fund’s performance prior to March 2014 reflects returns achieved by one or more different subadvisers.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 2nd Quarter 2011 2.13%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -2.17%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 -2.19% 2.52%
Class 2 05/07/2010 -2.36% 2.28%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
Barclays U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities Index* (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -1.41% 2.73%
  
* On March 21, 2014, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the New Index) replaced the Barclays U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities Index (the Former Index) as the Fund's primary benchmark. The Investment Manager believes that the New Index provides a more appropriate basis for comparing the Fund's performance. Information on both the New Index and the Former Index will be included for a one-year transition period. Thereafter, only the New Index will be included.
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: TCW Investment Management Company
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Tad Rivelle   Group Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income of TCW since December 2009   Co-manager   March 2014
Laird Landmann   Group Managing Director of TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
Stephen Kane, CFA   Group Managing Director of TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
Bryan Whalen, CFA   Managing Director of U.S. Fixed income, TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
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Summary of VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio (VP) – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income consistent with capital preservation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management Fees 0.46% 0.46%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.13% 0.13%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.59% 0.84%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $60 $189 $329 $ 738
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $86 $268 $466 $1,037
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 282% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. Government obligations, including debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets within non-government mortgage and asset-backed securities.
In pursuit of its objective, the Fund will purchase only securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, within the two highest rating categories assigned by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, or if deemed to be of comparable quality. As part of the Fund’s investment strategy, it may invest in stripped securities (securities that have been transformed from a principal
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (continued)
amount with periodic interest coupons into a series of zero-coupon bonds, with the range of maturities matching the coupon payment dates and the redemption date of the principal amount) or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements. In addition, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, and to a lesser extent, other securities rated AA- or Aa3 that the Fund’s subadviser believes will sufficiently outperform U.S. Treasuries. Generally, the portfolio’s overall dollar-weighted average effective duration is less than that of a 3-year U.S. Treasury note.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Summary of VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (continued)
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that this strategy will be successful.
Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
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The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year*
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 2nd Quarter 2011 0.79%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -0.69%
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 05/07/2010 -0.14% 1.63%
Class 2 05/07/2010 -0.49% 1.35%
Barclays U.S. 1-3 Year Government Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.37% 0.99%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Wells Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Thomas O’Connor, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Montgomery Fixed Income Co-Head of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Troy Ludgood   Senior Portfolio Manager and Montgomery Fixed Income Team Co-Head of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More Information About Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a level of current income consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds. The Fund will primarily invest in debt securities with short- and intermediate-term maturities generally similar to those included in the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index (the Index). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund targets an average portfolio duration within one year of the duration of the Index which, as of March 31, 2014 was 2.89 years. Duration measures the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates. The longer the duration of a bond, the longer it will take to repay the principal and interest obligations and the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. For example, a three-year duration means a bond is expected to decrease in value by 3% if interest rates rise 1% and increase in value by 3% if interest rates fall 1%.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by:
Emphasizing an independent, proprietary credit research process of issuers in the Index;
Analyzing issuer-specific inputs, such as business strategy, management strength, competitive position and various financial metrics to identify the most attractive securities within each industry;
Investing opportunistically in lower-quality (junk) bonds based on relative valuations and risk-adjusted return expectations;
Utilizing quantitative risk controls and qualitative risk assessments in a framework that seeks to minimize portfolio relative volatility.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors:
Change in an issuer’s credit fundamentals relative to the Fund investment team’s expectations;
Changes to the fundamental attractiveness of a sector, industry group, or security;
Changes to the risk/reward trade-off of an issuer;
The potential development of event risk;
Adjustments needed to change overall portfolio risk.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
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Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than
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More Information About Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (continued)
higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Portfolio Management
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
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Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Tom Murphy, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Grade Credit   Co-manager   2010
Timothy Doubek, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Royce D. Wilson, CFA   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Murphy joined the Investment Manager in 2002. Mr. Murphy began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Doubek joined the Investment Manager in 2001. Mr. Doubek began his investment career in 1987 and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Wilson joined the Investment Manager in 2007. Mr. Wilson began his investment career in 2002 and earned a B.B.A. from Western Connecticut State University.
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More Information About VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Investment Objective
VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and certain U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Ginnie Mae is supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Securities issued or guaranteed by other U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. However, they are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as credit default swaps, forward contracts (such as dollar rolls, pair-offs and investments in the To-Be-Announced market) and forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, and to increase market exposure and investment flexibility.
The selection of debt obligations is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, American Century Investment Management, Inc. (American Century or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, American Century decides which debt securities to buy and sell by considering:
the desired maturity requirements for the portfolio;
the portfolio’s credit quality standards;
current economic conditions and the risk of inflation; and/or
special features of the debt securities that may make them more or less attractive.
Because the Fund will own many debt securities, American Century calculates the average of the remaining maturities of all the debt securities the Fund owns to evaluate the interest rate sensitivity of the entire investment portfolio. This average is weighted according to the size of the Fund’s individual holdings and is called the weighted average maturity. American Century generally seeks to maintain the weighted average maturity of the Fund’s investment portfolio at three and one-half years or longer. Within this maturity limit, American Century may shorten the investment portfolio’s maturity during periods of rising interest rates in order to seek to reduce the effect of bond price declines on the Fund’s value. When interest rates are falling and bond prices are rising, American Century may lengthen the portfolio’s maturity.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
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Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
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Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility
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More Information About VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with American Century is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
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Subadviser
American Century, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111. American Century, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: American Century Investment Management, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Robert Gahagan   Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century (Macro Strategy Team Representative)   Co-manager   2010
Alejandro Aguilar, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
Jeffrey Houston, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
Brian Howell   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of American Century   Co-manager   2010
G. David MacEwen   Co-Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President of American Century (Macro Strategy Team Representative)   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Gahagan joined American Century in 1983. Mr. Gahagan began his investment career in 1983 and earned a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Mr. Aguilar joined American Century in 2003. Mr. Aguilar began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Houston joined American Century in 1990. Mr. Houston began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.A. from the University of Delaware and an M.A. from Syracuse University.
Mr. Howell joined American Century in 1987. Mr. Howell began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley.
Mr. MacEwen joined American Century in 1991. Mr. MacEwen began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. from Boston University and an M.B.A. from the University of Delaware.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its total assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager (CWAM or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
CWAM believes that stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher growth potential than stocks of larger companies.
The Subadviser typically seeks companies with:
A strong business franchise that offers growth potential.
Products and services in which the company has a competitive advantage.
A stock price the Subadviser believes is reasonable relative to the assets and earning power of the company.
The Subadviser may sell a portfolio holding if the security reaches the Subadviser's price target, if the company has a deterioration of fundamentals, such as failing to meet key operating benchmarks, or if the Subadviser believes other securities are more attractive. The Subadviser also may sell a portfolio holding to fund redemptions.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
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More Information About VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Small Company Securities Risk. Securities of small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger-capitalization companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with CWAM is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
CWAM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. CWAM, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Louis J. Mendes, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2010
Christopher J. Olson, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Mendes has been associated with CWAM or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2001. Mr. Mendes began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.I.M. from the American Graduate School of International Management.
Mr. Olson has been associated with CWAM or its predecessors as an investment professional since 2001. Mr. Olson began his investment career in 1988 and earned a B.A. from Middlebury College, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. from the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of U.S. companies.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager (CWAM or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
The Subadviser believes that stocks of companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher return potential than stocks of larger companies.
The Subadviser typically seeks companies with:
A strong business franchise that offers growth potential.
Products and services in which the company has a competitive advantage.
A stock price the Subadviser believes is reasonable relative to the assets and earning power of the company.
The Subadviser may sell a portfolio holding if the security reaches the Subadviser's price target, if the company has a deterioration of fundamentals, such as failing to meet key operating benchmarks, or if the Subadviser believes other securities are more attractive. The Subadviser also may sell a portfolio holding to fund redemptions.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose
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More Information About VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (continued)
money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with CWAM is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
CWAM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. CWAM, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Robert A. Mohn, CFA   Portfolio Manager, Analyst and Domestic Chief Investment Officer of CWAM   Lead manager   2010
David L. Frank, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Analyst   Co-manager   2012
Mr. Mohn has been associated with CWAM or its predecessors as an investment professional since 1992. Mr. Mohn began his investment career in 1983 and earned a B.S. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
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Mr. Frank has been associated with CWAM or its predecessors since 2002. Mr. Frank began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – DFA International Value Fund
Investment Objective
VP – DFA International Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large non-U.S. companies associated with developed markets that the Fund’s portfolio managers determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in companies in three or more non-U.S. developed market countries.
Investments for the Fund will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Fund’s portfolio pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Fund will receive dividend income.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts for equity securities and indices to gain market exposure on uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions, and forward foreign currency contracts in connection with the settlement of equity trades or the exchange of one currency for another.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. (DFA or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
DFA’s stock selection process generally seeks to identify stocks of large non-U.S. companies that it determines, in its view, to be “value” stocks at the time of purchase and are associated with developed market countries that DFA has designated as approved markets (Approved Markets). DFA considers value stocks to be primarily those issued by companies with a high book value in relation to market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, DFA may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria DFA uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. DFA, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large companies primarily located in developed market countries that have been designated as Approved Markets by DFA. DFA may purchase dual-listed securities or equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country, to gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets.
Securities that are associated with an Approved Market include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country or territory; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) equity securities of companies in Approved Markets in the form of depositary shares; or (g) securities included in the Fund’s benchmark index.
In the countries or regions authorized for investment, DFA first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. DFA then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the Fund with respect to each country or region. This threshold will vary by country or region. DFA intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. DFA may modify market capitalization weights and even exclude companies after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and expected profitability, as well as other factors that DFA determines appropriate, given market conditions. In assessing expected profitability, DFA may consider different ratios, such as that of earnings or profits from operations relative to book value or assets. Through this approach and its judgment, DFA will seek to set country weights based in part on the relative market capitalization of eligible large companies within each country.
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DFA may sell some or all of its position in a security if it believes the security no longer meets one or more of the eligibility criteria for purchase that are described above or, if requested by the Investment Manager, to provide liquidity for fund redemptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DFA retains discretion over the decision to sell any given security at any time.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each
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trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region
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being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (EU), and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
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Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with DFA is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
DFA, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since November 2011, is located at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. DFA, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Karen Umland, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
Jed Fogdall   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
Joseph Chi, CFA   Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of DFA   Co-manager   2011
Henry Gray   Vice President and Head of Global Equity Trading of DFA   Co-manager   2012
Ms. Umland joined DFA in 1993. Ms. Umland began her investment career in 1988 and earned a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles.
Mr. Fogdall joined DFA in 2004. Mr. Fogdall began his investment career in 2004 and earned a B.S. from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles.
Mr. Chi joined DFA in 2005. Mr. Chi began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Gray joined DFA in 1995. Mr. Gray began his investment career in 1989 and earned an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
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Investment Objective
VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in income producing floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities. These debt obligations will generally be rated non-investment grade by recognized rating agencies (similar to “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund invests in senior floating rate loans of borrowers (Senior Loans). The Fund may also purchase secured and unsecured subordinated loans, second lien loans and subordinate bridge loans (Junior Loans), or other floating rate debt securities, fixed income debt securities and money market instruments. For purposes of the 80% policy, money market holdings with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days will be deemed floating rate assets.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Floating rate loans are debt obligations of companies and other similar entities that have interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate (such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR) plus a premium). Floating rate loans are typically structured and administered by a financial institution that acts as the agent of the lenders participating in the floating rate loan. The Fund may acquire loans directly through the agent or from another holder of the loan by assignment. They are generally valued on a daily basis by independent pricing services.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Eaton Vance Management (Eaton Vance or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
The Subadviser seeks to invest in a portfolio of loans that it believes will be less volatile over time than the general loan market. The Subadviser also seeks to maintain broad borrower and industry diversification among the Fund’s holdings, including Senior Loans. When selecting an investment, the Subadviser seeks to utilize analysis of various investment characteristics including risk/return characteristics. The Subadviser may sell a holding if its risk/return profile deteriorates or to pursue more attractive investment opportunities.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other
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organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the borrower of a loan or the issuer of another debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and other fixed-income securities to indicate their credit risk. The price of a loan or other debt security generally will fall if the borrower or the issuer defaults on its obligation to pay principal or interest, the rating agencies downgrade the credit rating of the borrower or the issuer or other news affects the market’s perception of the credit risk of the borrower or the issuer. If the issuer of a loan declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay before the Fund can act on the collateral securing the loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan adverse to the holders of the loan, such as invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or other debt securities, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Non-investment grade loans or securities (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or securities. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings
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agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may consist of transactions involving refinancings, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and other financings for general corporate purposes. The Fund’s investments also may include senior obligations of a borrower issued in connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (commonly known as “debtor-in-possession” financings), provided that such senior obligations are determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be a suitable investment for the Fund. In such highly leveraged transactions, the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Such business objectives may include but are not limited to: management’s taking over control of a company (leveraged buy-out); reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a company (leveraged recapitalization); or acquiring another company. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price of its investment, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Floating rate loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans also may trade infrequently on the secondary market. The value of the loan to the Fund may be impaired in the event that the Fund needs to liquidate such loans. The inability to purchase or sell floating rate loans and other debt securities at a fair price may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Securities or other assets in which the Fund invests may be traded in the over-the-counter market rather than on an organized exchange and therefore may be more difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
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Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Eaton Vance is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Eaton Vance, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. Eaton Vance, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. Eaton Vance is a registered investment adviser. Eaton Vance has been managing assets since 1924 and managing mutual funds since 1931. Eaton Vance is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Eaton Vance Management
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Scott Page, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Craig Russ   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Andrew Sveen, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Eaton Vance   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Page joined Eaton Vance in 1989. Mr. Page began his investment career in 1981 and earned a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. from Tuck School at Dartmouth College.
Mr. Russ joined Eaton Vance in 1997. Mr. Russ began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and he also studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mr. Sveen joined Eaton Vance in 1999. Mr. Sveen began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.S. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the William Simon School of Business Finance.
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More Information About VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
The Fund invests primarily in U.S. companies. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 45 and 60 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Holland Capital Management LLC (Holland or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Holland’s investment philosophy is grounded in bottom up, fundamental research. Holland seeks companies that it believes exhibit the following characteristics:
Superior management teams
Poised for double-digit earnings growth selling at reasonable valuations
Strong financial condition
Niche products or services that possess superior competitive positioning
Significant insider ownership
Holland’s investment process entails performing bottom-up fundamental research to identify stocks that meet their long-term conservative growth criteria, and includes a top-down overlay. Holland does not make specific predictions regarding the economy or interest rates. Instead, Holland analyzes the current environment to understand whether the direction of these factors may have a material impact on or create certain risks within the Fund’s portfolio.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making
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payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund, because it may invest in a limited number of companies, may have more volatility in its net asset value and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the
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level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment subadvisory agreement with Holland is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
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The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
Holland, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since March 2013, is located at 303 W. Madison Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Holland, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Holland Capital Management LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Monica Walker Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Holland Co-manager 2013
Carl Bhathena Senior Equity Analyst (Technology) and Portfolio Manager of Holland Co-manager 2013
Ms. Walker is a Founding partner of Holland. Ms. Walker began her investment career in 1989 and earned a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Mr. Bhathena joined Holland in 1998. Mr. Bhathena began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. in economics from Baldwin-Wallace College and an M.B.A. with honors from the University of Hartford’s Beatrice Auerbach School with an investment finance concentration.
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More Information About VP – Invesco International Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets are primarily invested in equity securities and depositary receipts of foreign issuers. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in securities of companies located in at least three countries outside the U.S., which may include significant investment in companies in the developed countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Basin. The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities that provide exposure to emerging markets. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers of any market capitalization, including both large- and mid-capitalization issuers. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure, and futures contracts (including index futures) to seek exposure to the broad market in connection with managing cash balances or to hedge against downside risk. The Fund may also hold warrants in connection with the acquisition of securities.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Invesco Advisers, Inc. (Invesco or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Invesco employs a disciplined investment strategy that emphasizes fundamental research to identify, in its view, quality growth companies and is supported by quantitative analysis, portfolio construction and risk management techniques. Investments for the Fund are then selected bottom-up on a security-by-security basis. The focus is on the strengths of individual companies, rather than sector or country trends. The portfolio managers’ strategy primarily focuses on identifying issuers that they believe have sustainable above-average earnings growth, efficient capital allocation, and attractive prices.
Invesco may consider selling a security for several reasons, including when Invesco believes (1) its price changes such that they believe it has become too expensive, (2) the original investment thesis for the company is no longer valid, or (3) a more compelling investment opportunity is identified.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging
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risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value. There also is the risk that the potential exercise price may exceed the market price of the warrants or rights. Investment in these instruments also subject the Fund to liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily
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dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Markets Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (EU), and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a
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single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or
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terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Invesco is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Invesco, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. Invesco, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Clas Olsson   CIO of Invesco’s International Growth Investment Management Unit and Lead Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Lead Manager   2010
Brent Bates, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2013
Shuxin Cao, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Matthew Dennis, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Jason Holzer, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2010
Mark Jason, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2011
Richard Nield, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Invesco   Co-manager   2013
Mr. Olsson joined Invesco in 1994. Mr. Olsson began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Texas.
Mr. Bates joined Invesco in 2011. Mr. Bates began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
Mr. Cao joined Invesco in 1997. Mr. Cao began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. in English from Tianjin Foreign Language Institute and an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University.
Mr. Dennis joined Invesco in 2000. Mr. Dennis began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Mr. Holzer joined Invesco in 1996. Mr. Holzer began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. in Quantitative Economics and an M.S. in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University.
Mr. Jason joined Invesco in 2001. Mr. Jason began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.S. in Finance and a B.S. in Real Estate from California State University at Northridge.
Mr. Nield joined Invesco in 2000. Mr. Nield began his investment career in 1995 and earned a BComm in Finance and International Business from McGill University in Montreal.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
Investment Objective
VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while conserving the value of the investment for the longest period of time. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. Although the Fund is not an index fund, it invests primarily in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The Fund does not expect to invest in securities rated below investment grade, although it may hold securities that, subsequent to the Fund’s investment, have been downgraded to a below investment grade rating.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
JPMIM analyzes four major factors in managing and constructing the Fund’s investment portfolio: duration, market sectors, maturity concentrations and individual securities. JPMIM looks for market sectors and individual securities that it believes will perform well over time. JPMIM selects individual securities after performing a risk/reward analysis that includes an evaluation of interest rate risk, credit risk and the complex legal and technical structure of the transaction.
JPMIM incorporates a bottom-up, value-oriented approach to fixed income investment management, including:
identifying securities that it believes are priced inefficiently;
making sector allocation decisions based on a broad sector outlook, utilizing expected return and valuation analysis;
managing the yield curve, with an emphasis on evaluating relative risk/reward relationships along the yield curve; and
managing portfolio duration, primarily as a risk control measure.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
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Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
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Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed
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by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with JPMIM is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
JPMIM, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. JPMIM, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Douglas Swanson   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2010
Christopher Nauseda   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2010
Peter Simons, CFA   Executive Director and Portfolio Manager of JPMIM   Co-manager   2013
Mr. Swanson joined JPMIM and/or its predecessor in 1983. Mr. Swanson began his investment career in 1983 and earned a B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. from Sloan School at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Nauseda joined JPMIM and/or its predecessor in 1998. Mr. Nauseda began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.S. and M.B.A. from Wayne State University.
Mr. Simons joined JPMIM and/or its predecessor in 2001. Mr. Simons began his investment career in 2000 and earned a B.S. from Cedarville University and an M.B.A. from Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization that falls within the range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.1 billion to $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Jennison Associates LLC (Jennison or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Jennison seeks to identify companies with above-average earnings-per-share growth that generally have the following characteristics:
Sustainable earnings growth over the investment horizon
Strong business fundamentals
Stable and enduring franchise value
Jennison uses a “bottom-up,” research intensive approach seeking to build a diversified portfolio of companies with attractive valuations and projected strong earnings growth on an intermediate-term basis. Jennison believes the market often underappreciates the performance of these steady-growth companies and seeks to capture inflection points in a company’s growth rates or business model, looking for companies transitioning from early-stage growth to a more mature, seasoned level of performance.
Jennison typically sells a security when one or more of the following occurs:
The security exceeds Jennison’s target price
A fundamental change in earnings growth or company dynamics alters Jennison’s view of appreciation potential
Risk characteristics increase due to changes in company fundamentals or industry trends
A more attractive holding candidate is uncovered
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
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Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may fluctuate more sharply in value than
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (continued)
securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Jennison is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Jennison, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Jennison, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Manager
Information about the portfolio manager primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and ownership by the portfolio manager of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Jennison Associates LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
John Mullman, CFA   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Jennison   Manager   2010
Mr. Mullman joined Jennison in 2000. Mr. Mullman began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. in economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.B.A. from Yale University.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies.
The Fund will not concentrate its assets in any single industry but may from time to time invest more than 25% of its assets in companies conducting business in various industries within an economic sector. The Fund will typically invest in a limited number of companies.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (Loomis Sayles or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Loomis Sayles normally invests across a wide range of sectors and industries. Loomis Sayles employs a growth style of equity management that seeks to emphasize companies with sustainable competitive advantages, secular, long-term cash flow growth returns on invested capital above their cost of capital and the ability to manage for profitable growth that can create long-term value for shareholders. Loomis Sayles aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to Loomis Sayles’ estimate of intrinsic value.
Loomis Sayles will consider selling a portfolio investment when it believes the issuer’s investment fundamentals are beginning to deteriorate, when the investment no longer appears consistent with Loomis Sayles’ investment methodology, when the Fund must meet redemptions, in order to take advantage of more attractive investment opportunities, or for other investment reasons which Loomis Sayles deems appropriate.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
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Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Focused Portfolio Risk. The Fund, because it may invest in a limited number of companies, may have more volatility in its net asset value and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of companies because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived
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changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment subadvisory agreement with Loomis Sayles will be available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
Loomis Sayles, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since March 2014, is located at One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111. Loomis Sayles, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. Loomis Sayles is a subsidiary of Natixis US, which is part of Natixis Asset Management, an international asset management group based in Paris, France. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the oldest investment advisory firms in the United States.
Portfolio Manager
Information about the portfolio manager primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and ownership by the portfolio manager of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Aziz Hamzaogullari, CFA   Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Loomis Sayles   Manager   March 2014
Mr. Hamzaogullari joined Loomis Sayles in 2010. Prior to 2010, Mr. Hamzaogullari served as a senior portfolio manager at Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC. Mr. Hamzaogullari began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.S. from Bilkent University in Turkey and an MBA from The George Washington University.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – MFS Value Fund
Investment Objective
VP – MFS Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund’s assets are invested primarily in equity securities. The Fund invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are believed to be undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies). Value companies tend to have stock prices that are low relative to their earnings, dividends, assets, or other financial measures.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, equity interests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and depositary receipts for such securities. While the Fund may invest its assets in companies of any size, the Fund generally focuses on large-capitalization companies. Large-capitalization companies are defined by the Fund as those companies with market capitalizations of at least $5 billion at the time of purchase.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Massachusetts Financial Services Company (MFS or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
MFS uses a “bottom-up” investment approach to buying and selling investments for the Fund. Investments are selected primarily based on fundamental analysis of individual issuers and their potential in light of their financial condition and market, economic, political and regulatory conditions. Factors considered may include analysis of an issuer’s earnings, cash flows, competitive position, and management ability. The Subadviser may sell a holding for a variety of reasons, such as to seek to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, among others. Quantitative models that systematically evaluate an issuer’s valuation, price and earnings momentum, earnings quality, and other factors may also be considered.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with
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investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by
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borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with MFS is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
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Subadviser
MFS, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199. MFS, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. MFS is a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings, Inc., which in turn is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial Inc. (a diversified financial services company).
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Nevin Chitkara   Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of MFS   Co-manager   2010
Steven Gorham   Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of MFS   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Chitkara has been employed in the investment area of MFS since 1997. Mr. Chitkara earned a B.S. from Boston University and an M.B.A. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Gorham has been employed in the investment area of MFS since 1992. Mr. Gorham earned a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Boston College.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of non-U.S. small cap companies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of non-U.S. small cap companies.
The Fund’s subadviser is an active, value-oriented, defensive manager that emphasizes small-cap opportunities for the Fund. The subadviser considers small cap companies to be those companies whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, falls within the range of companies in the MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (the Index). The Index is composed of stocks which are categorized as small capitalization stocks and is designed to measure equity performance in 23 global developed markets, excluding the U.S. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $26 million to $9 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund may also invest in emerging markets. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to defensively hedge the currency of existing positions. The Fund also may purchase foreign currency in order to purchase foreign securities.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Mondrian Investment Partners Limited (Mondrian or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Mondrian considers small cap investment opportunities to be companies whose market capitalization falls within the range of companies in the Index. Mondrian then uses a quantitative screen as well as other security ideas to derive a smaller number of companies on which it will make use of a three-stage process to determine (i) whether an existing security will remain or will be removed from the Fund and (ii) whether a new security will enter into the Fund. Mondrian’s three-stage research process includes:
An overview of financial statements and industry prospects;
Meetings (on-site) with company management to have a clearer understanding of business operations and growth prospects; and
Using a combination of bottom-up/top-down inputs to model the future income stream, balance sheet and cash flow projections of the company to ascertain the long-term dividend paying capability of the company, which are then used as inputs into the inflation adjusted dividend discount methodology to derive the underlying value of a company.
In addition, Mondrian may sell a security if in its view:
Price appreciation has led to a significant overvaluation against a predetermined value level as defined by the dividend discount model;
Change in the fundamentals adversely affects ongoing appraisal of value;
More attractive alternatives are discovered; and
Market capitalization significantly exceeds Mondrian’s targeted ceiling.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Markets Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (EU), and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that
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have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the industrials sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Small Company Securities Risk. Securities of small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger-capitalization companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing
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basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Mondrian is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Mondrian, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 10 Gresham Street, 5th Floor, London, United Kingdom EC2V7JD. Mondrian, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Dr. Ormala Krishnan   Chief Investment Officer Small Cap Equities of Mondrian   Co-manager   2010
Frances Cuthbert, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager of Mondrian   Co-manager   2012
Aidan Nicholson, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager of Mondrian   Co-manager   2012
Dr. Krishnan joined Mondrian in 2000. Dr. Krishnan began her investment career in 1993 and earned a BSc in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the National University of Singapore, an MSc in Actuarial Science from City University, London and completed her doctoral program in Investment and Finance from Sir John Cass Business School, City of London.
Ms. Cuthbert joined Mondrian in 1999. Ms. Cuthbert began her investment career in 1998 and earned a M.A. (Hons) in Economics from the University of Edinburgh.
Mr. Nicholson joined Mondrian in 2003. Mr. Nicholson began his investment career in 2001 and earned a Masters in Engineering, Economics & Management from Pembroke College, Oxford.
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More Information About VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income and capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies in the real estate industry located throughout the world (Global Real Estate Companies). The Fund will invest primarily in companies in the real estate industry located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets. A company is considered to be in the real estate industry if it (i) derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from the ownership, construction, management, financing or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate or (ii) has at least 50% of the fair market value of its assets invested in residential, commercial or industrial real estate. Companies in the real estate industry include, among others, real estate operating companies (REOCs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and similar entities formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in Global Real Estate Companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. As a result, the Fund may make substantial investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (MSIM or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund. MSIM is also responsible for the supervision of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited (MSIM Limited) and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company (MSIM Company), each of which assists MSIM with the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. MSIM, MSIM Limited and MSIM Company are collectively referred to as the Subadvisers.
The Subadvisers actively manage the Fund using a combination of top-down and bottom-up methodologies. The Subadvisers’ proprietary models drive the bottom-up value-driven approach for stock selection. The top-down portion seeks diversified exposure to all major asset classes with an overweighting to property markets that the Subadvisers believe offer the best relative valuation. The bottom-up research process strongly influences the Subadvisers’ perspective on which property markets they believe provide better relative value and growth prospects and, consequently, affects their decision to overweight or underweight a given region, sector and/or country. The Subadvisers generally consider selling a portfolio holding if the holding’s share price shifts to the point where the Subadvisers believe the position no longer represents an attractive relative value opportunity versus the underlying value of its assets and/or growth prospects or versus other securities in the investment universe.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
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Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
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Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Emerging Markets Securities Risk” and “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended. Because the value of REITs and other real estate-related companies may fluctuate widely in response to changes in factors affecting the real estate markets, the value of an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than the value of an investment in a fund that is invested in a more diverse range of market sectors.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or
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terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with MSIM is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
MSIM, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036. MSIM, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. MSIM is also responsible for the supervision of MSIM Limited, located at 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 4QA, England, and MSIM Company, located at 23 Church Street, 16-01 Capital Square, Singapore 04948, each of which assist with the Fund’s day-to-day portfolio management, under separate Delegation Agreements with MSIM.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Theodore Bigman   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Inc.   Co-manager   2010
Michiel te Paske   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Limited   Co-manager   2010
Sven van Kemenade   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Limited   Co-manager   2010
Angeline Ho   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Company   Co-manager   2010
Bill Grant   Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of MSIM Inc.   Co-manager   2014
Mr. Bigman joined MSIM in 1995. Mr. Bigman began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and studied at the London School of Economics.
Mr. te Paske joined MSIM in 1997. Mr. te Paske began his investment career in 1997 and earned a Masters in Economics from Maastricht University.
Mr. van Kemenade joined MSIM in 1997. Mr. van Kemenade began his investment career in 1997 and earned a Masters in Economics from Maastricht University.
Ms. Ho joined MSIM in 1997. Ms. Ho began her investment career in 1992 and earned a BSC with honors in Estate Management from the National University of Singapore and an M.B.A. in Accountancy from the Nanyang Technological University.
Mr. Grant joined MSIM in 2000. Mr. Grant began his investment career in 2002 and earned a B.A. in Economics from Occidental College.
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More Information About VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
Investment Objective
VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital and income. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies that pay or are expected to pay dividends.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund also may invest in real estate investment trusts.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, NFJ Investment Group LLC (NFJ or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
NFJ portfolio managers use a value investing style focusing on companies with low valuations that pay dividends. The portfolio managers use quantitative factors to screen the initial selection universe. To further narrow the universe, the portfolio managers apply negative screens such as price momentum (i.e., changes in stock price relative to changes in overall market prices), earnings estimate revisions (i.e., changes in analysts’ earnings-per-share estimates) and trading of securities by corporate insiders. The portfolio managers also classify the selection universe by industry and then identify what they believe to be the most undervalued stocks in each industry to determine potential holdings for the strategies representing a broad range of industry groups. The portfolio managers further narrow the universe through a combination of qualitative analysis and fundamental research. The portfolio managers seek to identify attractive securities within each market capitalization range. The research process is continually repeated to identify new buy and sell candidates.
NFJ considers selling a security when it believes any of the factors leading to the security’s purchase materially changes or when a more attractive candidate is identified, including when an alternative security with strong fundamentals demonstrates a lower price-to-earnings ratio, a higher dividend yield or favorable qualitative metrics.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with
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investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
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Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with NFJ is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
NFJ, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75201. NFJ, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
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Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: NFJ Investment Group LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Benno Fischer, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Analyst and Founding Partner of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Paul Magnuson   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
R. Burns McKinney, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Thomas Oliver, CFA, CPA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2010
Morley Campbell, CFA   Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2013
L. Baxter Hines, CFA   Director, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2011
Jeff Reed, CFA   Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   2011
John R. Mowrey, CFA   Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Analyst of NFJ   Co-manager   May 2014
Mr. Fischer founded NFJ in 1989. Mr. Fischer began his investment career in 1966 and earned a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma, and an M.B.A. from New York University.
Mr. Magnuson joined NFJ in 1992. Mr. Magnuson began his investment career in 1985 and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Nebraska.
Mr. McKinney joined NFJ in 2006. Mr. McKinney began his investment career in 1996 and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Oliver joined NFJ in 2005. Mr. Oliver began his investment career in 2005 and earned a B.B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas.
Mr. Campbell joined NFJ in 2007. Mr. Campbell began his investment career in 2001 and earned a M.B.A from Harvard Business School and a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas.
Mr. Hines joined NFJ in 2008. Mr. Hines began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business.
Mr. Reed joined NFJ in 2007. Mr. Reed began his investment career in 2006 and earned a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas.
Mr. Mowrey joined NFJ in 2007. Mr. Mowrey began his investment career in 2006 and earned a B.A. from Rhodes College and an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
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More Information About VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies with a market capitalization in excess of $4 billion at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Winslow Capital Management, LLC (Winslow Capital or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
Winslow Capital’s fundamental, bottom-up investment process centers on identifying growth companies which exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:
in an industry with growth potential;
leads or gains market share;
has identifiable and sustainable competitive advantages;
is managed by team that can perpetuate the company’s competitive advantages; and/or
high, and preferably rising, return on invested capital.
In order to identify investment candidates for the Fund, Winslow Capital begins by using a quantitative screen of the companies in the Russell 1000 ® Index (the Index) with market capitalizations typically exceeding $4 billion, complemented with a few companies that are not in the Index. The companies that pass this screen are then qualitatively assessed in the context of their respective industry. Winslow Capital then determines which companies with potential for above-average future earnings growth fit their portfolio construction parameters in light of the companies’ valuations.
Winslow Capital employs a sell discipline which utilizes the same fundamental research process in order to control risk and protect capital. Winslow Capital may sell some or all of a position in a stock when:
the fundamental business prospects are deteriorating, altering the basis for investment;
a stock becomes fully valued; or
a position exceeds limits set by the subadviser.
In addition, all stocks that decline 20% or more from the purchase price or a recent high are immediately reviewed for possible fundamental deterioration, and may be trimmed, sold or added to, based on such review.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
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The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Winslow Capital is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
Subadviser
Winslow Capital, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since November 2010, is located at 4720 IDS Tower, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Winslow Capital, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Winslow Capital Management, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Justin Kelly, CFA   Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2010
Patrick Burton, CFA   Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Clark Winslow   Chief Executive Officer and Founder   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Kelly joined Winslow Capital in 1999. Mr. Kelly began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.S. from Babson College.
Mr. Burton joined Winslow Capital in 2010. Prior to joining Winslow Capital, Mr. Burton was a Senior Equity Research Analyst at Thrivent Asset Management from 2009 to 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Burton was a Managing Director with Citigroup Investments from 1999 to 2009. Mr. Burton began his investment career in 1984 and earned a B.S. from the University of Minnesota.
Mr. Winslow founded Winslow Capital in 1992. Mr. Winslow began his investment career in 1966 and earned a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in the equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of purchase, of up to $2.5 billion, or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $61 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadvisers: London Company of Virginia (doing business as The London Company (TLC)), Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. (Palisade) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated (WellsCap) (TLC, Palisade and WellsCap, 
each a Subadviser and collectively, the Subadvisers). The Subadvisers provide day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund. The Investment Manager, subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, decides the proportion of the Fund’s assets to be managed by each Subadviser, and may change these proportions at any time. Each of the Subadvisers acts independently of the others and uses its own methodology for selecting investments. Each Subadviser employs an active investment strategy.
Palisade
Palisade seeks small companies that have the potential to grow into larger companies, but trade in the market at prices that, based on Palisade’s valuations and estimates, do not reflect the companies’ current or future value. Since the small cap equity market is inherently less efficient than the large cap market, Palisade believes it can gain an informational advantage by conducting comprehensive fundamental research. Palisade emphasizes site visits and direct contact not only with portfolio companies but also with their customers, their suppliers, their competitors, and supply chains. Palisade focuses more on long term business dynamics and less on short term share price momentum or gyrations.
Palisade considers the investment universe to generally be all companies with market caps within the range of the Index. Palisade considers whether the company qualifies as “core growth” or “changing dynamics”. “Changing dynamics” companies are those that Palisade believes are facing particular challenges or do not have earnings, yet are believed to have significant upside based on one or more catalysts identified by the team. While “changing dynamics” stocks often present tantalizing upside opportunity, they are also more prone to disappointments and downside volatility. Palisade may sell a stock when it achieves a target price determined by Palisade, fundamentals deteriorate, earnings disappoint and/or to invest in more attractive stocks.
TLC
TLC seeks to purchase profitable, financially stable small-capitalization companies that it believes are consistently generating high returns on unleveraged operating capital, run by shareholder-oriented management, and trading at a discount to their respective private market values. Guiding principles of TLC’s small-cap philosophy include, among other things: (1) a focus on cash return on tangible capital, instead of earnings per share, (2) a determination of company value based on an evaluation of cash inflows and outflows discounted by the optimal cost of capital, (3) a focused investment approach (not diversifying excessively), and (4) an overall approach based on low turnover.
TLC utilizes a bottom-up approach in the security selection process. It screens a small-capitalization universe against an internally developed quantitative model, scoring companies along several dimensions including return on capital, earnings to enterprise value ratio, free cash flow yield and tangible book value growth. TLC seeks companies that are trading at a 40% or greater discount to their perceived intrinsic value. TLC looks at a company’s corporate governance structure and management
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incentives to try to ascertain whether or not management’s interests are aligned with shareholders’ interests. TLC seeks to identify the sources of a company’s competitive advantage as well as what levers management has at its disposal to increase shareholder value. Securities are ultimately added to the Fund when TLC determines that the risk/reward profile of the security has made it attractive to warrant purchase, typically when the security is trading at a low-to-reasonable valuation. TLC generally sells a security to adjust portfolio risk or when it believes: the security has become overvalued and has reached TLC’s price target, the security’s fundamentals have deteriorated, there is significant trading activity by insiders or there is a more promising alternative.
WellsCap
WellsCap invests principally in equity securities of small-capitalization companies that is believes have prospects for robust and sustainable growth of revenues and earnings. WellsCap seeks small-capitalization companies that are in the emerging phase of their life cycle. WellsCap believes earnings and revenue growth relative to expectations are critical factors in determining stock price movements. Thus, the investment process is centered around finding emerging growth companies with under-appreciated prospects for robust and sustainable growth in earnings and revenue. To find that growth, WellsCap uses bottom-up research, emphasizing companies whose management teams have a history of successfully executing their strategy and whose business models have sufficient profit potential. WellsCap forecasts revenue and earnings growth along with other key financial metrics to assess investment potential. WellsCap then combines that company-specific analysis with its assessment of what the market is discounting for growth to form a buy/sell decision about a particular stock. WellsCap sells a company’s securities when it sees a deterioration in fundamentals that leads it to become suspicious of a company’s prospective growth profile or the profitability potential of its business model, as this often leads to lower valuation potential. WellsCap may also sell or trim a position when it needs to raise money to fund the purchase of a better investment opportunity or when valuation is extended.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
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More Information About VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the information technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small Company Securities Risk. Securities of small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger-capitalization companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreements with TLC, Palisade and WellsCap, 
is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The date the Subadvisers began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadvisers below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadvisers began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadvisers’ management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
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More Information About VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
Subadvisers
Palisade, which has served as a Subadviser to the Fund since November 2012, is located at One Bridge Plaza North, Suite 695, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024. Palisade, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
TLC, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia 23226. TLC, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
WellsCap, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105. WellsCap, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Managers
Subadviser: Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Sammy Oh   Senior Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of Palisade   Manager   2012
Mr. Oh joined Palisade in February 2009. Prior to Palisade’s acquisition of the AG Asset Management (“AGAM”) growth team, Mr. Oh spent five years as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at AGAM (formerly known as Forstmann Leff). Mr. Oh began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from the Tuck School at Dartmouth University and an A.B. from Stanford University.
Subadviser: The London Company of Virginia
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Stephen Goddard, CFA   President, Chief Investment Officer, Lead Portfolio Manager and Founder of TLC   Lead Manager   2010
Jonathan Moody, CFA   Principal and Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2010
J. Brian Campbell, CFA   Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2010
Mark DeVaul, CFA, CPA   Portfolio Manager of TLC   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Goddard founded TLC in 1994. Mr. Goddard began his investment career in 1989 and earned a B.A. from Virginia Military Institute and an M.B.A. from the University of Richmond.
Mr. Moody joined TLC 2002. Mr. Moody began his investment career in 1992 and earned a B.S. from Virginia Military Institute.
Mr. Campbell joined TLC in 2010. Prior to joining TLC, Mr. Campbell was a Portfolio Manager and Director of Research at Hilliard Lyons Capital Management. Mr. Campbell began his investment career in 2000 and earned a B.B.A. from the University of Kentucky and an M.B.A. from Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.
Mr. DeVaul joined TLC in 2011. Prior to joining TLC, Mr. DeVaul spent four years as an equity research analyst with First Union Securities and Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. DeVaul began his investment career in 1998 and earned a B.S. in Accounting from Liberty University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Subadviser: Wells Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Joseph Eberhardy, CFA, CPA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Thomas Ognar, CFA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Bruce Olson, CFA   Portfolio Manager of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
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Mr. Eberhardy joined WellsCap in 2005 as part of WellsCap’s acquisition of Strong Capital Management, which he joined in 1994. Mr. Eberhardy began his investment career in 1994 and earned a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Mr. Ognar joined WellsCap in 2005 as part of WellsCap’s acquisition of Strong Capital Management, which he joined in 1998. Mr. Ognar began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.S. from Miami University and an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Mr. Olson joined WellsCap in 2005 as part of WellsCap’s acquisition of Strong Capital Management, which he joined in 1994. Mr. Olson began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers, located or traded in countries other than the U.S., that are believed to offer strong growth potential. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests its assets in common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations fall within the range of the companies that comprise the MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $665 million to $242.95 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC (Pyramis or the Subadviser), an indirectly held, wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
When buying and selling a security, Pyramis relies on fundamental analysis, which involves a bottom-up assessment of a company’s potential for success in light of factors including, but not limited to, its financial condition, earnings outlook, strategy, management, industry position, and economic and market conditions. These securities may then be analyzed using statistical models to further evaluate the securities’ growth potential, valuation, liquidity, and investment risks.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio manager to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange
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controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. A number of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact that country, other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified in areas with more developed countries and economies. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Continued growth of economies and securities markets in the region will require sustained economic and fiscal discipline, as well as continued commitment to governmental and regulatory reforms. Development also may be influenced by international economic conditions, including those in the United States and Japan, and by world demand for goods or natural resources produced in countries in the Asia Pacific region. Securities markets in the region are generally smaller and have a lower trading volume than those in the United States, which may result in the securities of some companies in the region being less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities. Some currencies, inflation rates or interest rates in the Asia Pacific region are or can be volatile, and some countries in the region may restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The risks described under “Foreign Securities Risk” may be more pronounced due to concentration of the Fund’s investments in the region.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (EU), and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes on its members and with which candidates for EMU membership are required to comply. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single EU country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. Unemployment in Europe has historically been higher than in the United States and public deficits are an ongoing concern in many European countries. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
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More Information About VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the financial services sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with Pyramis is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC, an indirectly held, wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917. Pyramis, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Portfolio Manager
Information about the portfolio manager primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and ownership by the portfolio manager of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Cesar Hernandez, CFA   Portfolio Manager of Pyramis   Manager   2010
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More Information About VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
Mr. Hernandez joined Fidelity in 1989 where he developed the select international strategy and has been responsible for managing Select International and Select Global portfolios since their inception in 1989. Mr. Hernandez began his investment career 1986 and earned a B.S. from the Universidad Simon Bolivar and an M.B.A. from Babson College.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
Investment Objective
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return through current income and capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities, including debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, bank loans and other obligations. The Fund invests at least 60% of its net assets in debt securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity or duration at the Fund level. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity and duration will vary over time depending on expectations for market and economic conditions.
Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign investments, which may include investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, as well as investments in emerging markets securities. In connection with its strategy relating to foreign investments, the Fund may buy or sell foreign currencies in lieu of or in addition to non-dollar denominated fixed-income securities in order to increase or decrease its exposure to foreign interest rate and/or currency markets.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including currency, fixed income, index and interest rate futures), forward foreign currency contracts, forward rate agreements, options (including options on currencies, interest rates and swap agreements, which are commonly referred to as swaptions), swap contracts (including swaps on fixed income futures and credit default, cross-currency, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments, including instruments commonly known as mortgage derivatives, such as inverse floaters, To Be Announced (TBA) securities, and interest-only (IO), principal-only (PO), inverse IO and tiered index bonds. The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market or credit exposure and investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security, currency or other asset), and/or to manage duration and yield curve of the Fund. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, TCW Investment Management Company (TCW or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
TCW seeks to enhance the Fund's performance through the measured and diversified application of five fixed income management strategies: (1) duration management, (2) yield curve positioning, (3) sector allocation, (4) security selection, and (5) opportunistic execution. TCW's investment philosophy is predicated on a long-term economic outlook, and investments are characterized by diversification among the sectors of the fixed income marketplace. In seeking to identify undervalued securities, TCW focuses on such investment metrics as current yield, potential for price appreciation, position in capital structure via other creditors, yield to maturity, rating, duration, and liquidity. The most important facet of TCW's portfolio construction process is the application of independent, bottom-up research in an effort to identify securities that are undervalued and that offer a superior risk/return profile. TCW seeks to control risk through a variety of techniques including diversification, duration constraints, and quantitative scenario analysis.
TCW may sell portfolio securities when it determines to take advantage of a better investment opportunity because TCW believes that the Fund's current portfolio securities no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
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More Information About VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the borrower of a loan or the issuer of another debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and other fixed-income securities to indicate their credit risk. The price of a loan or other debt security generally will fall if the borrower or the issuer defaults on its obligation to pay principal or interest, the rating agencies downgrade the credit rating of the borrower or the issuer or other news affects the market’s perception of the credit risk of the borrower or the issuer. If the issuer of a loan declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay before the Fund can act on the collateral securing the loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan adverse to the holders of the loan, such as invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or other debt securities, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Non-investment grade loans or securities (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or securities. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative
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instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. Investment in these instruments subjects the Fund to risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
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Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. As short-term interest rates go down, the holders of the inverse floaters receive more income and, as short-term interest rates go up, the holders of the inverse floaters receive less income. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuer’s credit quality. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions in inverse floaters include interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), counterparty risk (the risk that the issuer of a security may or will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments when due) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the
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risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the return, based upon an agreed-upon notional value, of a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference based upon an agreed-upon notional value. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business
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operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund's assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund's obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell
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other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers
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become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debt-holders.
Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment subadvisory agreement with TCW will be available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014.
The date the Subadviser began serving the Fund is set forth under Subadviser below. Any performance of the Fund prior to the date the Subadviser began serving was achieved by one or more different subadvisers. Similarly, the portfolio turnover rate for periods prior to the Subadviser’s management of the Fund was the result of management by one or more different subadvisers. A change in subadvisers may result in increased portfolio turnover.
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Subadviser
TCW, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since March 2014, is located at 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017. TCW, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. TCW is an independent registered investment adviser. TCW was organized in 1971 and provides a variety of trust, investment management and investment advisory services.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Tad Rivelle   Group Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income of TCW since December 2009   Co-manager   March 2014
Laird Landmann   Group Managing Director of TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
Stephen Kane, CFA   Group Managing Director of TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
Bryan Whalen, CFA   Managing Director of U.S. Fixed income, TCW   Co-manager   March 2014
Mr. Rivelle joined TCW in 2009 during the acquisition of Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (MetWest). Prior to joining TCW in December 2009, Mr. Rivelle was Chief Investment Officer, portfolio manager and a founding partner with Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since 1996. Mr. Rivelle began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.S. from Yale University, a Master's Degree in applied mathematics from the University of Southern California and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson.
Mr. Landmann joined TCW in 2009 during the acquisition of Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (MetWest). Prior to joining TCW in December 2009, Mr. Landmann was a portfolio manager and a founding partner with Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since 1996. Mr. Landmann began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.S. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Mr. Kane joined TCW in 2009 during the acquisition of Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (MetWest). Prior to joining TCW in December 2009, Mr. Kane was a portfolio manager and a founding partner with Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since 1996. Mr. Kane began his investment career in 1990 and earned a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Mr. Whalen joined TCW in 2009 during the acquisition of Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (MetWest). Prior to joining TCW in December 2009, Mr. Whalen was co-head of MetWest’s Securitized Products division. Mr. Whalen began his investment career in 1997 and earned a B.A. from Yale University.
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More Information About VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
Investment Objective
VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income consistent with capital preservation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. Government obligations, including debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets within non-government mortgage and asset-backed securities.
In pursuit of its objective, the Fund will purchase only securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, within the two highest rating categories assigned by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, or if deemed to be of comparable quality. As part of the Fund’s investment strategy, it may invest in stripped securities (securities that have been transformed from a principal amount with periodic interest coupons into a series of zero-coupon bonds, with the range of maturities matching the coupon payment dates and the redemption date of the principal amount) or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements. In addition, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, and to a lesser extent, other securities rated AA- or Aa3 that the Fund’s subadviser believes will sufficiently outperform U.S. Treasuries. Generally, the portfolio’s overall dollar-weighted average effective duration is less than that of a 3-year U.S. Treasury note.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Wells Capital Management Incorporated (WellsCap or the Subadviser), which provides day-to-day portfolio management to the Fund.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the Subadviser chooses debt securities that it believes:
offer competitive returns;
are undervalued; and/or
offer additional income and /or price appreciation potential relative to other debt securities of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Subadviser considers, among other factors, whether:
The security has achieved its designed return;
The security or its sector has become overvalued; and/or
A more attractive opportunity becomes available or the security is no longer attractive due to its risk profile or as a result of changes in the overall market environment.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
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Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than
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equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that this strategy will be successful.
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Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Portfolio Management
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the investment subadvisory agreement with WellsCap is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Portfolio Managers
WellsCap, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund since May 2010, is located at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105. WellsCap, subject to the supervision of Columbia Management, provides day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information, under a Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management.
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Wells Capital Management Inc.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Thomas O’Connor, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Montgomery Fixed Income Co-Head of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Troy Ludgood   Senior Portfolio Manager and Montgomery Fixed Income Team Co-Head of WellsCap   Co-manager   2010
Mr. O’Connor joined WellsCap in 2000. Mr. O’Connor began his investment career in 1988 and earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Vermont.
Mr. Ludgood joined WellsCap in 2004. Mr. Ludgood began his investment career in 2000 and earned a M.B.A. from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
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More Information About the Funds
References to “the Fund” throughout the remainder of the prospectus refer to the VP Funds singularly or collectively as the context requires.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds
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may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
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Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
  Class 1 Class 2
Columbia VP - Limited Duration Credit Fund 0.57% 0.82%
VP - American Century Diversified Bond Fund 0.56% 0.81%
VP - Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund 0.99% 1.24%
VP - Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund 0.96% 1.21%
VP - DFA International Value Fund 0.88% 1.13%
VP - Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund 0.72% 0.97%
VP - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund 0.79% 1.04%
VP - Invesco International Growth Fund 0.99% 1.24%
VP - J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund 0.56% 0.81%
VP - Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund 0.88% 1.13%
VP - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund 0.79% 1.04%
VP - MFS Value Fund 0.77% 1.02%
VP - Mondrian International Small Cap Fund 0.99% 1.24%
VP - Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund 0.89% 1.14%
VP - NFJ Dividend Value Fund 0.77% 1.02%
VP - Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund 0.79% 1.04%
VP - Partners Small Cap Growth Fund 0.96% 1.21%
VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund 1.00% 1.25%
VP - TCW Core Plus Bond Fund 0.62% 0.87%
VP - Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund 0.59% 0.84%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
In addition, for Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund , effective April 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of its management fee (from 0.48% to 0.43%) on the first $1 billion of assets of the Fund, unless sooner terminated in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
In addition, for Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund , effective May 1, 2014, the Investment Manager has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion the fees it is paid for investment advisory services and administrative services provided to the Fund so its total fees will not exceed a rate of 0.48% on the first $3 billion of assets of the Fund. This expense limitation is voluntary and may be revised or terminated at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
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Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Investment Manager is responsible for the investment management of the Fund, but has delegated certain of its duties, including day-to-day portfolio management of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets of certain Funds to one or more investment subadvisers, as described in this prospectus, that determines what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executes these portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to the amount shown in the table below, as a percent of average daily net assets of the Fund.
    
  Management fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
Columbia VP - Limited Duration Credit Fund 0.46%
VP - American Century Diversified Bond Fund 0.44%
VP - Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund 0.91%
VP - Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund 0.85%
VP - DFA International Value Fund 0.84%
VP - Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund 0.63%
VP - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund 0.63%
VP - Invesco International Growth Fund 0.83%
VP - J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund 0.44%
VP - Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund 0.75%
VP - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund 0.64%
VP - MFS Value Fund 0.62%
VP - Mondrian International Small Cap Fund 0.93%
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  Management fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013
VP - Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund 0.85%
VP - NFJ Dividend Value Fund 0.62%
VP - Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund 0.64%
VP - Partners Small Cap Growth Fund 0.87%
VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund 0.84%
VP - TCW Core Plus Bond Fund 0.47%
VP - Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund 0.46%
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Funds' investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners, Qualified Plan participants and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
More Information About the Funds (continued)
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 1 and Class 2 shares.
    
  Class 1 Shares Class 2 Shares
Eligible Investors Shares of the Fund are available only to separate accounts of participating insurance companies as underlying investments for variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) or other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor.
Investment Limits none none
Conversion Features none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsors or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. Your product may not offer every share class. The Fund encourages you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and for more information about the share classes offered by the Fund and available under your product. Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts and Qualified Plan sponsors.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners or participants in a Qualified Plan. When you sell your shares through your Contract or Qualified Plan, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract, participant in a Qualified Plan or qualified institutional investor who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or Qualified Plan or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts or the Qualified Plan.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase only through Contracts offered by participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners, and the interests of Qualified Plan participants, if any, may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor, before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract or Qualified Plan. Any charges that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans that may own shares directly, are described in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract or Qualified Plan. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable, for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer
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Variable Portfolio Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Each of VP - Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund, VP - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund, VP - Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund, VP - Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, VP - MFS Value Fund, VP - NFJ Dividend Value Fund, VP - Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund, and VP - Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (the Partnership Funds) expect to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes. Each Partnership Fund is not required to and does not expect to make regular distributions to its shareholders (other than in redemption of Fund shares), but may do so in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (or its delegates).
Each of Columbia VP - Limited Duration Credit Fund, VP - American Century Diversified Bond Fund, VP - Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, VP - DFA International Value Fund, VP - Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund, VP - Invesco International Growth Fund, VP - J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund, VP - Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, VP - Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, VP - Pyramis International Equity Fund, VP - TCW Core Plus Bond Fund, and VP - Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (the RIC Funds) intend to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. Each RIC Fund may make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you'll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.
Each RIC Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, the Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:
    
  Declarations Distributions
Columbia VP - Limited Duration Credit Fund Annually Annually
VP - American Century Diversified Bond Fund Annually Annually
VP - Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund Quarterly Quarterly
VP - DFA International Value Fund Quarterly Quarterly
VP - Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund Annually Annually
VP - Invesco International Growth Fund Quarterly Quarterly
VP - J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund Annually Annually
VP - Mondrian International Small Cap Fund Quarterly Quarterly
VP - Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund Annually Annually
VP - Pyramis International Equity Fund Quarterly Quarterly
VP - TCW Core Plus Bond Fund Annually Annually
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
  Declarations Distributions
VP - Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund Annually Annually
The RIC Funds may, however, declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently. Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution. Each RIC Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions to be paid in cash.
Taxes and Your Investment
Each Partnership Fund expects to be treated as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a Partnership Fund were not to qualify for such treatment, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level, which would reduce the value of an investment in the Fund.
As a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership,” the Fund is not itself subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each shareholder will be required to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes its allocable share of a Fund’s income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other tax items, without regard to whether such shareholder has received or will receive corresponding distributions from the Fund.
Each RIC Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes allocations or distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts, or, for Partnership Funds, if the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership.”
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.68 $10.35 $10.27 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.19 0.26 0.29 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.04) 0.38 (0.05) 0.09
Total from investment operations 0.15 0.64 0.24 0.27
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.26) (0.31) (0.13)
Net realized gains (0.12) (0.03)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.38) (0.31) (0.16)
Net asset value, end of period $10.45 $10.68 $10.35 $10.27
Total return 1.44% 6.25% 2.38% 2.70%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.59% 0.59% 0.59% 0.61% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.56% 0.53% 0.54% 0.54% (c)
Net investment income 1.76% 2.43% 2.85% 2.75% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,929,154 $2,725,076 $2,681,324 $2,370,410
Portfolio turnover 89% 117% 94% 16% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 10% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
    
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — Columbia VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.64 $10.31 $10.25 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.22 0.27 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.04) 0.39 (0.05) 0.08
Total from investment operations 0.12 0.61 0.22 0.25
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.23) (0.28) (0.13)
Net realized gains (0.12) (0.03)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.35) (0.28) (0.16)
Net asset value, end of period $10.41 $10.64 $10.31 $10.25
Total return 1.19% 6.05% 2.09% 2.50%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.84% 0.84% 0.84% 0.86% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.81% 0.78% 0.79% 0.79% (c)
Net investment income 1.51% 2.13% 2.59% 2.64% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $9,481 $6,521 $4,178 $1,250
Portfolio turnover 89% 117% 94% 16% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 10% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.30 $11.08 $10.47 $10.15
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.17 0.23 0.29 0.16
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.45) 0.33 0.48 0.16
Total from investment operations (0.28) 0.56 0.77 0.32
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.22) (0.26) (0.11)
Net realized gains (0.20) (0.08) (0.05)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.42) (0.34) (0.16)
Net asset value, end of period $10.60 $11.30 $11.08 $10.47
Total return (2.45%) 5.08% 7.41% 3.15%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.57% 0.58% 0.59% 0.62% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.57% 0.58% 0.57% 0.55% (c)
Net investment income 1.58% 2.07% 2.69% 2.32% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,180,618 $2,890,784 $2,328,963 $1,997,905
Portfolio turnover 186% (e) 131% (e) 85% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 54% for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 60% for the year ended December 31, 2012.
    
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.26 $11.05 $10.46 $10.15
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.14 0.20 0.26 0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.45) 0.33 0.48 0.16
Total from investment operations (0.31) 0.53 0.74 0.31
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.19) (0.24) (0.10)
Net realized gains (0.20) (0.08) (0.05)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.39) (0.32) (0.15)
Net asset value, end of period $10.56 $11.26 $11.05 $10.46
Total return (2.71%) 4.84% 7.10% 3.05%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.82% 0.83% 0.84% 0.85% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.82% 0.83% 0.83% 0.80% (c)
Net investment income 1.33% 1.75% 2.45% 2.22% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $5,874 $6,670 $2,415 $817
Portfolio turnover 186% (e) 131% (e) 85% 66%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 54% for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 60% for the year ended December 31, 2012.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010(a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.06 $10.22 $12.31 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.17 0.14 0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.45 2.01 (1.74) 2.32
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00(b) 0.00(b) 0.01
Total from investment operations 2.61 2.18 (1.60) 2.37
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.35) (0.15) (0.33) (0.06)
Net realized gains (0.22) (0.19) (0.16)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.57) (0.34) (0.49) (0.06)
Net asset value, end of period $14.10 $12.06 $10.22 $12.31
Total return 22.32% 21.76%(c) (13.57%)(c) 23.75%(d)
Ratios to average net assets(e)        
Total gross expenses 1.12% 1.11% 1.13% 1.33%(f)
Total net expenses(g) 1.00% 1.00% 1.06% 1.15%(f)
Net investment income 1.23% 1.49% 1.21% 0.63%(f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $699,692 $599,148 $517,956 $503,442
Portfolio turnover 48% 41% 32% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.07%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010(a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.06 $10.22 $12.31 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.12 0.13 0.11 0.00(b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.45 2.03 (1.74) 2.35
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00(b) 0.00(b) 0.01
Total from investment operations 2.57 2.16 (1.63) 2.36
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.32) (0.13) (0.30) (0.05)
Net realized gains (0.22) (0.19) (0.16)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.54) (0.32) (0.46) (0.05)
Net asset value, end of period $14.09 $12.06 $10.22 $12.31
Total return 22.02% 21.48%(c) (13.77%)(c) 23.63%(d)
Ratios to average net assets(e)        
Total gross expenses 1.37% 1.36% 1.39% 1.48%(f)
Total net expenses(g) 1.25% 1.25% 1.29% 1.40%(f)
Net investment income 0.96% 1.19% 0.95% 0.05%(f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $14,444 $6,931 $3,625 $1,306
Portfolio turnover 48% 41% 32% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.07%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.53 $11.30 $11.87 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.02) 0.09 (0.04) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.78 2.14 (0.53) 1.88
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 4.76 2.23 (0.57) 1.87
Net asset value, end of period $18.29 $13.53 $11.30 $11.87
Total return 35.18% 19.74% (4.80%) 18.70% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.00% (e) 1.01% (e) 1.00% 1.06% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 0.96% (e) 0.96% (e) 0.97% 0.97% (f)
Net investment income (loss) (0.13%) 0.70% (0.35%) (0.09%) (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $631,394 $711,259 $666,865 $656,773
Portfolio turnover 23% 29% 18% 17%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.45 $11.25 $11.85 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.05) 0.09 (0.06) 0.00 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.72 2.11 (0.54) 1.85
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 4.67 2.20 (0.60) 1.85
Net asset value, end of period $18.12 $13.45 $11.25 $11.85
Total return 34.72% 19.56% (5.06%) 18.50% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.25% (e) 1.26% (e) 1.25% 1.31% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 1.21% (e) 1.21% (e) 1.22% 1.22% (f)
Net investment income (loss) (0.33%) 0.68% (0.55%) 0.02% (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $11,839 $5,321 $2,710 $779
Portfolio turnover 23% 29% 18% 17%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – DFA International Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.87 $8.63 $11.25 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.24 0.22 0.23 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.70 1.22 (2.31) 1.27
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 1.94 1.44 (2.08) 1.34
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.26) (0.20) (0.23) (0.09)
Net realized gains (0.30)
Tax return of capital (0.01)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.26) (0.20) (0.54) (0.09)
Net asset value, end of period $11.55 $9.87 $8.63 $11.25
Total return 20.04% 17.01% (19.37%) 13.53% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.00% (e) 0.99% (e) 1.00% 1.04% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 0.89% (e) 0.92% (e) 0.93% 0.92% (f)
Net investment income 2.27% 2.40% 2.29% 1.04% (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,291,683 $1,580,912 $1,293,915 $1,254,171
Portfolio turnover 15% 16% 104% 29%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – DFA International Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.85 $8.62 $11.24 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.19 0.20 0.19 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.72 1.21 (2.29) 1.30
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 1.91 1.41 (2.10) 1.32
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.23) (0.18) (0.21) (0.08)
Net realized gains (0.30)
Tax return of capital (0.01)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.23) (0.18) (0.52) (0.08)
Net asset value, end of period $11.53 $9.85 $8.62 $11.24
Total return 19.80% 16.63% (19.55%) 13.30% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.25% (e) 1.24% (e) 1.25% 1.29% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 1.13% (e) 1.17% (e) 1.18% 1.17% (f)
Net investment income 1.80% 2.23% 1.89% 0.28% (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $5,321 $2,269 $1,702 $583
Portfolio turnover 15% 16% 104% 29%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.09 $9.93 $9.92 $9.62
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.40 0.45 0.41 0.24
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.00 (b) 0.28 (0.19) 0.06
Total from investment operations 0.40 0.73 0.22 0.30
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.44) (0.49) (0.19)
Net realized gains (0.08) (0.08) (0.02)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.52) (0.57) (0.21)
Net asset value, end of period $9.97 $10.09 $9.93 $9.92
Total return 4.13% 7.59% 2.19% 3.12%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 0.79% 0.79% 0.79% 0.83% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.72% 0.72% 0.68% 0.58% (d)
Net investment income 4.01% 4.46% 4.15% 3.89% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $721,646 $776,324 $912,054 $788,430
Portfolio turnover 95% 41% 46% 19%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.96 $9.82 $9.83 $9.62
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.37 0.42 0.38 0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.01 0.27 (0.19) (0.04)
Total from investment operations 0.38 0.69 0.19 0.21
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.42) (0.47) (0.18)
Net realized gains (0.08) (0.08) (0.02)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.50) (0.55) (0.20)
Net asset value, end of period $9.84 $9.96 $9.82 $9.83
Total return 3.92% 7.23% 1.91% 2.18%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.04% 1.04% 1.04% 1.08% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.97% 0.97% 0.95% 0.83% (c)
Net investment income 3.73% 4.24% 3.93% 3.97% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $28,919 $12,156 $8,138 $1,735
Portfolio turnover 95% 41% 46% 19%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.20 $11.78 $12.06 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.05 0.10 0.08 0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.08 1.32 (0.36) 2.02
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 4.13 1.42 (0.28) 2.06
Net asset value, end of period $17.33 $13.20 $11.78 $12.06
Total return 31.29% 12.05% (2.32%) 20.60% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 0.76% 0.75% 0.76% 0.78% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 0.76% 0.74% 0.71% 0.70% (e)
Net investment income 0.33% 0.75% 0.64% 0.64% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,604,396 $1,676,931 $1,682,839 $1,590,540
Portfolio turnover 116% 81% 71% 44%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.12 $11.73 $12.04 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.01 0.07 0.06 0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.05 1.32 (0.37) 2.00
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b)
Total from investment operations 4.06 1.39 (0.31) 2.04
Net asset value, end of period $17.18 $13.12 $11.73 $12.04
Total return 30.95% 11.85% (2.58%) 20.40% (c)
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.01% 1.00% 1.01% 1.03% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 1.01% 0.99% 0.97% 0.95% (e)
Net investment income 0.08% 0.56% 0.49% 0.51% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $4,955 $3,365 $1,917 $323
Portfolio turnover 116% 81% 71% 44%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Invesco International Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.79 $10.54 $11.64 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.17 0.15 0.21 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.03 1.46 (0.98) 1.63
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b) 0.01
Total from investment operations 2.20 1.61 (0.77) 1.70
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.21) (0.14) (0.21) (0.06)
Net realized gains (0.15) (0.22) (0.12)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.36) (0.36) (0.33) (0.06)
Net asset value, end of period $13.63 $11.79 $10.54 $11.64
Total return 19.13% 15.74% (6.92%) (c) 17.11% (d)
Ratios to average net assets (e)        
Total gross expenses 0.98% 0.98% 1.00% 1.02% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 0.98% 0.97% 0.95% 0.96% (f)
Net investment income 1.39% 1.34% 1.86% 0.87% (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,926,293 $1,982,101 $1,772,805 $1,645,212
Portfolio turnover 30% 28% 24% 17%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.08%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Invesco International Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.76 $10.53 $11.63 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.12 0.11 0.13 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.05 1.47 (0.93) 1.65
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.00 (b) 0.01
Total from investment operations 2.17 1.58 (0.80) 1.68
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.18) (0.13) (0.18) (0.05)
Net realized gains (0.15) (0.22) (0.12)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.33) (0.35) (0.30) (0.05)
Net asset value, end of period $13.60 $11.76 $10.53 $11.63
Total return 18.89% 15.35% (7.12%) (c) 16.89% (d)
Ratios to average net assets (e)        
Total gross expenses 1.24% 1.23% 1.25% 1.29% (f)
Total net expenses (g) 1.24% 1.22% 1.20% 1.21% (f)
Net investment income 0.95% 1.03% 1.22% 0.30% (f)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $6,813 $3,080 $1,889 $456
Portfolio turnover 30% 28% 24% 17%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by less than 0.01%.
(d) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.08%.
(e) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.11 $10.91 $10.39 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.22 0.26 0.30 0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.47) 0.24 0.43 0.25
Total from investment operations (0.25) 0.50 0.73 0.39
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.23) (0.27) (0.13)
Net realized gains (0.02) (0.03) (0.08)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.25) (0.30) (0.21)
Net asset value, end of period $10.61 $11.11 $10.91 $10.39
Total return (2.23%) 4.63% 7.09% 3.90%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.57% 0.58% 0.60% 0.62% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.57% 0.58% 0.58% 0.55% (c)
Net investment income 2.03% 2.33% 2.83% 2.12% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,112,418 $2,817,256 $2,088,567 $1,791,928
Portfolio turnover 16% 14% 21% 78%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.07 $10.87 $10.37 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.19 0.23 0.27 0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.47) 0.25 0.43 0.22
Total from investment operations (0.28) 0.48 0.70 0.37
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.20) (0.25) (0.12)
Net realized gains (0.02) (0.03) (0.08)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.22) (0.28) (0.20)
Net asset value, end of period $10.57 $11.07 $10.87 $10.37
Total return (2.49%) 4.47% 6.76% 3.70%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.82% 0.83% 0.84% 0.87% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.82% 0.83% 0.83% 0.80% (c)
Net investment income 1.77% 2.07% 2.59% 2.26% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $4,720 $5,837 $3,103 $1,173
Portfolio turnover 16% 14% 21% 78%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.50 $11.59 $11.36 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.01) 0.06 0.03 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.79 1.85 0.20 1.31
Total from investment operations 3.78 1.91 0.23 1.36
Net asset value, end of period $17.28 $13.50 $11.59 $11.36
Total return 28.00% 16.48% 2.02% 13.60%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.87% (c) 0.87% 0.88% 0.91% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.83% (c) 0.82% 0.83% 0.82% (d)
Net investment income (loss) (0.09%) 0.49% 0.25% 0.81% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $965,195 $1,039,067 $916,179 $839,892
Portfolio turnover 37% 47% 44% 25%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.40 $11.54 $11.33 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.05) 0.05 0.00 (b) 0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.76 1.81 0.21 1.25
Total from investment operations 3.71 1.86 0.21 1.33
Net asset value, end of period $17.11 $13.40 $11.54 $11.33
Total return 27.69% 16.12% 1.85% 13.30%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.13% (d) 1.12% 1.13% 1.16% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 1.08% (d) 1.07% 1.08% 1.07% (e)
Net investment income (loss) (0.33%) 0.36% 0.03% 1.20% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $5,297 $2,333 $953 $348
Portfolio turnover 37% 47% 44% 25%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.85 $11.26 $11.33 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.10 0.12 0.09 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.71 1.47 (0.16) 1.27
Total from investment operations 3.81 1.59 (0.07) 1.33
Net asset value, end of period $16.66 $12.85 $11.26 $11.33
Total return 29.65% 14.12% (0.62%) 13.30%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.76% 0.75% (c) 0.75% 0.78% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 0.76% 0.73% (c) 0.70% 0.70% (d)
Net investment income 0.70% 0.94% 0.82% 1.00% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,108,798 $1,682,857 $1,702,237 $1,781,141
Portfolio turnover 73% 80% 96% 56%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.76 $11.21 $11.31 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.07 0.10 0.07 0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 3.68 1.45 (0.17) 1.22
Total from investment operations 3.75 1.55 (0.10) 1.31
Net asset value, end of period $16.51 $12.76 $11.21 $11.31
Total return 29.39% 13.83% (0.88%) 13.10%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.02% 1.00% (c) 1.00% 1.03% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.02% 0.99% (c) 0.95% 0.95% (d)
Net investment income 0.46% 0.79% 0.58% 1.24% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,085 $1,452 $498 $197
Portfolio turnover 73% 80% 96% 56%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – MFS Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.51 $10.76 $10.76 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.25 0.24 0.21 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.23 1.51 (0.21) 0.66
Total from investment operations 4.48 1.75 0.76
Net asset value, end of period $16.99 $12.51 $10.76 $10.76
Total return 35.81% 16.26% 0.00% 7.60%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.74% 0.75% 0.76% 0.78% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.74% 0.74% 0.69% 0.64% (c)
Net investment income 1.71% 2.05% 1.95% 1.79% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,327,134 $1,846,204 $1,739,492 $1,534,188
Portfolio turnover 18% 15% 15% 13%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – MFS Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.43 $10.72 $10.75 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.22 0.22 0.19 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.19 1.49 (0.22) 0.64
Total from investment operations 4.41 1.71 (0.03) 0.75
Net asset value, end of period $16.84 $12.43 $10.72 $10.75
Total return 35.48% 15.95% (0.28%) 7.50%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.99% 1.00% 1.01% 1.04% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.99% 0.99% 0.95% 0.89% (c)
Net investment income 1.45% 1.85% 1.80% 1.67% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $7,900 $2,766 $1,480 $365
Portfolio turnover 18% 15% 15% 13%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.45 $10.79 $12.46 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.26 0.29 0.30 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.61 2.27 (1.33) 2.44
Total from investment operations 1.87 2.56 (1.03) 2.56
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.41) (0.27) (0.37) (0.10)
Net realized gains (0.30) (0.63) (0.27)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.71) (0.90) (0.64) (0.10)
Net asset value, end of period $13.61 $12.45 $10.79 $12.46
Total return 15.80% 25.15% (8.75%) 25.71%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.10% 1.11% (c) 1.11% 1.20% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.00% 1.04% (c) 1.11% 1.20% (d)
Net investment income 2.04% 2.45% 2.49% 1.69% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $428,859 $368,165 $318,383 $301,889
Portfolio turnover 18% 17% 21% 15%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.45 $10.79 $12.44 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.23 0.26 0.27 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.60 2.27 (1.31) 2.41
Total from investment operations 1.83 2.53 (1.04) 2.52
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.39) (0.24) (0.34) (0.08)
Net realized gains (0.30) (0.63) (0.27)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.69) (0.87) (0.61) (0.08)
Net asset value, end of period $13.59 $12.45 $10.79 $12.44
Total return 15.42% 24.85% (8.83%) 25.29%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.35% 1.37% (c) 1.36% 1.43% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.25% 1.29% (c) 1.36% 1.43% (d)
Net investment income 1.80% 2.19% 2.24% 1.53% (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $8 $7 $6 $6
Portfolio turnover 18% 17% 21% 15%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.89 $10.08 $11.74 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.24 0.29 0.23 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.14 2.76 (1.26) 1.56
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.01
Total from investment operations 0.38 3.05 (1.03) 1.74
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (1.03) (0.04) (0.48)
Net realized gains (0.53) (0.20) (0.15)
Total distributions to shareholders (1.56) (0.24) (0.63)
Net asset value, end of period $11.71 $12.89 $10.08 $11.74
Total return 3.28% 30.62% (9.51%) 17.40% (b)
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.04% (d) 1.03% (d) 1.01% 1.11% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 0.89% (d) 0.89% (d) 0.88% 0.86% (e)
Net investment income 1.87% 2.46% 2.09% 2.48% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $310,093 $454,820 $401,238 $369,366
Portfolio turnover 25% 31% 18% 14%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.08%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.84 $10.05 $11.71 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.22 0.26 0.21 0.16
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.13 2.74 (1.25) 1.54
Increase from payments by affiliate 0.01
Total from investment operations 0.35 3.00 (1.04) 1.71
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (1.00) (0.01) (0.47)
Net realized gains (0.53) (0.20) (0.15)
Total distributions to shareholders (1.53) (0.21) (0.62)
Net asset value, end of period $11.66 $12.84 $10.05 $11.71
Total return 3.05% 30.21% (9.62%) 17.10% (b)
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.29% (d) 1.29% (d) 1.27% 1.35% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 1.14% (d) 1.14% (d) 1.13% 1.11% (e)
Net investment income 1.77% 2.22% 1.95% 2.16% (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $11,138 $6,516 $2,929 $880
Portfolio turnover 25% 31% 18% 14%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) The Fund received a payment by an affiliate. Had the Fund not received this payment, the total return would have been lower by 0.08%.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Ratios include line of credit interest expense which rounds to less than 0.01%.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.29 $11.66 $11.26 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.39 0.38 0.36 0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.35 1.25 0.04 1.01
Total from investment operations 3.74 1.63 0.40 1.26
Net asset value, end of period $17.03 $13.29 $11.66 $11.26
Total return 28.14% 13.98% 3.55% 12.60%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.75% 0.75% 0.76% 0.78% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.75% 0.75% 0.72% 0.64% (c)
Net investment income 2.58% 2.98% 3.15% 3.73% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,058,095 $1,843,656 $1,754,511 $1,544,544
Portfolio turnover 29% 42% 32% 24%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.21 $11.61 $11.24 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.35 0.35 0.34 0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.31 1.25 0.03 0.99
Total from investment operations 3.66 1.60 0.37 1.24
Net asset value, end of period $16.87 $13.21 $11.61 $11.24
Total return 27.71% 13.78% 3.29% 12.40%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.00% 1.00% 1.01% 1.03% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.00% 1.00% 0.99% 0.89% (c)
Net investment income 2.29% 2.75% 3.00% 3.69% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $6,908 $3,883 $1,589 $183
Portfolio turnover 29% 42% 32% 24%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.96 $11.41 $11.42 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.73 1.51 (0.02) 1.41
Total from investment operations 4.74 1.55 (0.01) 1.42
Net asset value, end of period $17.70 $12.96 $11.41 $11.42
Total return 36.57% 13.58% (0.09%) 14.20%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.76% 0.75% 0.75% 0.80% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.76% 0.75% 0.73% 0.70% (c)
Net investment income 0.07% 0.31% 0.09% 0.18% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,326,310 $1,685,695 $1,673,806 $1,192,955
Portfolio turnover 69% 63% 47% 109%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.87 $11.36 $11.40 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.03) 0.02 (0.01) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 4.69 1.49 (0.03) 1.41
Total from investment operations 4.66 1.51 (0.04) 1.40
Net asset value, end of period $17.53 $12.87 $11.36 $11.40
Total return 36.21% 13.29% (0.35%) 14.00%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.01% 1.00% 1.01% 1.04% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.01% 1.00% 0.99% 0.95% (c)
Net investment income (loss) (0.19%) 0.16% (0.06%) (0.12%) (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,663 $1,367 $596 $42
Portfolio turnover 69% 63% 47% 109%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $13.05 $11.74 $11.77 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.03) 0.04 (0.03) (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.28 1.27 (0.00) (b)(c) 1.79
Total from investment operations 5.25 1.31 (0.03) 1.77
Net asset value, end of period $18.30 $13.05 $11.74 $11.77
Total return 40.23% 11.16% (0.25%) 17.70%
Ratios to average net assets (d)        
Total gross expenses 1.03% 1.03% 1.03% 1.08% (e)
Total net expenses (f) 0.96% 0.99% 1.03% 1.07% (e)
Net investment income (loss) (0.19%) 0.33% (0.29%) (0.24%) (e)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $622,614 $510,214 $505,966 $483,631
Portfolio turnover 53% 70% 67% 43%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Rounds to zero.
(c) Calculation of the net loss per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(d) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.96 $11.68 $11.75 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.08) 0.03 (0.05) (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.25 1.25 (0.02) (b) 1.78
Total from investment operations 5.17 1.28 (0.07) 1.75
Net asset value, end of period $18.13 $12.96 $11.68 $11.75
Total return 39.89% 10.96% (0.60%) 17.50%
Ratios to average net assets (c)        
Total gross expenses 1.28% 1.28% 1.28% 1.34% (d)
Total net expenses (e) 1.21% 1.24% 1.28% 1.32% (d)
Net investment income (loss) (0.48%) 0.21% (0.47%) (0.40%) (d)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,841 $1,252 $631 $131
Portfolio turnover 53% 70% 67% 43%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) Calculation of the net loss per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuations in the market value of the portfolio.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.24 $9.65 $11.57 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.20 0.23 0.24 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.12 1.73 (1.62) 1.56
Total from investment operations 2.32 1.96 (1.38) 1.61
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.27) (0.21) (0.26) (0.04)
Net realized gains (0.30) (0.16) (0.28)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.57) (0.37) (0.54) (0.04)
Net asset value, end of period $12.99 $11.24 $9.65 $11.57
Total return 21.51% 20.92% (12.59%) 16.14%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.00% 1.01% 1.01% 1.06% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.00% 0.98% 0.95% 0.96% (c)
Net investment income 1.64% 2.19% 2.19% 0.81% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,427,986 $1,195,137 $1,091,985 $1,019,309
Portfolio turnover 78% 66% 63% 43%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.21 $9.63 $11.56 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.14 0.19 0.19 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.15 1.74 (1.60) 1.57
Total from investment operations 2.29 1.93 (1.41) 1.59
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.25) (0.19) (0.24) (0.03)
Net realized gains (0.30) (0.16) (0.28)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.55) (0.35) (0.52) (0.03)
Net asset value, end of period $12.95 $11.21 $9.63 $11.56
Total return 21.27% 20.59% (12.87%) 15.92%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 1.25% 1.26% 1.26% 1.30% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.25% 1.24% 1.20% 1.21% (c)
Net investment income 1.16% 1.88% 1.85% 0.22% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,282 $1,297 $596 $87
Portfolio turnover 78% 66% 63% 43%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.48 $10.62 $10.37 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.09 0.07 0.21 0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.32) 0.17 0.35 0.29
Total from investment operations (0.23) 0.24 0.56 0.37
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.08) (0.20) (0.08)
Net realized gains (0.15) (0.18) (0.23)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.23) (0.38) (0.31)
Net asset value, end of period $10.02 $10.48 $10.62 $10.37
Total return (2.19%) 2.32% 5.53% 3.70%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.61% 0.62% 0.63% 0.68% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.61% 0.60% 0.56% 0.55% (c)
Net investment income 0.85% 0.69% 2.04% 1.28% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,247,945 $1,479,732 $1,241,618 $1,087,790
Portfolio turnover 1,233% 1,142% 1,618% 1,403%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.44 $10.59 $10.36 $10.00
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.06 0.04 0.19 0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.31) 0.17 0.34 0.28
Total from investment operations (0.25) 0.21 0.53 0.36
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.05) (0.18) (0.07)
Net realized gains (0.15) (0.18) (0.23)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.20) (0.36) (0.30)
Net asset value, end of period $9.99 $10.44 $10.59 $10.36
Total return (2.36%) 2.05% 5.20% 3.60%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.86% 0.87% 0.88% 0.95% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.86% 0.85% 0.81% 0.80% (c)
Net investment income 0.60% 0.40% 1.79% 1.25% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,260 $3,684 $1,509 $478
Portfolio turnover 1,233% 1,142% 1,618% 1,403%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.33 $10.32 $10.19 $10.02
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.05 0.11 0.14 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.06) 0.10 0.10 0.06
Total from investment operations (0.01) 0.21 0.24 0.17
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.10) (0.12) (0.08)
Net realized gains (0.08) (0.08) (0.03)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.18) (0.20) (0.11)
Net asset value, end of period $10.14 $10.33 $10.32 $10.19
Total return (0.14%) 2.01% 2.41% 1.70%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.59% 0.60% 0.60% 0.62% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.59% 0.59% 0.57% 0.55% (c)
Net investment income 0.47% 1.03% 1.34% 1.70% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,455,893 $2,106,703 $1,779,392 $1,574,515
Portfolio turnover 282% 356% 529% 360%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Funds
Financial Highlights — VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.29 $10.29 $10.17 $10.02
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.02 0.08 0.11 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07) 0.10 0.11 0.05
Total from investment operations (0.05) 0.18 0.22 0.15
Less distributions to shareholders:        
Net investment income (0.07) (0.10) (0.07)
Net realized gains (0.08) (0.08) (0.03)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.15) (0.18) (0.10)
Net asset value, end of period $10.09 $10.29 $10.29 $10.17
Total return (0.49%) 1.76% 2.18% 1.50%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.84% 0.85% 0.85% 0.86% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.84% 0.84% 0.82% 0.80% (c)
Net investment income 0.23% 0.76% 1.10% 1.57% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,460 $2,189 $1,005 $469
Portfolio turnover 282% 356% 529% 360%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (when shares became available) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies and participants in Qualified Plans. Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6546-99 F (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio
Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio

  
Each above named Funds offers Class 2 and Class 4 shares to separate accounts consisting of subaccounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated life insurance companies authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Funds.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Table of Contents
SUMMARIES OF THE FUNDS Investment Objective, Fees and Expenses of the Fund, Principal Investment Strategies, Principal Risks, Performance Information, Fund Management, Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Tax Information, Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries.  

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2 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio (Conservative Portfolio or the Fund) seeks to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with a conservative level of risk.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2 Class 4
Management fees 0.00% 0.00%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.03% 0.03%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.60% 0.60%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 0.88% 0.88%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $90 $281 $488 $1,084
Class 4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $90 $281 $488 $1,084
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds. An underlying fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 34% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and
Prospectus 2014 3

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio (continued)
fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset class categories) within the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Conservative Portfolio 10–25%* 60-75%* 5-15%* 0–10%*
         
* As a percent of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause a Fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) may modify the target allocation ranges only with the approval of a Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Fund including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Prospectus 2014 5

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 3.68%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -3.13%
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 05/07/10 3.18% 5.37%
Class 4 05/07/10 3.09% 5.35%
Blended Index (consists of 70% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 14% Russell 3000 Index, 10% Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, 6% MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net)) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes on the MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. portion of the Blended Index, but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   3.65% 5.31% (a)
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.55% 17.82%
Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.05% 0.08% (a)
MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   15.29% 10.06%
  
(a) Returns from 04/30/10
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract or life insurance policy with RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies) and allocating your purchase payments to the Account that invests in the Fund.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus, as applicable, for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 7

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio (Moderately Conservative Portfolio or the Fund) seeks to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderately conservative level of risk.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2 Class 4
Management fees 0.00% 0.00%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.02% 0.02%
Acquired fund fees and expenses (a) 0.67% 0.67%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.94% 0.94%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
 Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $96 $300 $520 $1,155
Class 4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $96 $300 $520 $1,155
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds. An underlying fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and
8 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio (continued)
fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset class categories) within the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Moderately Conservative Portfolio 25-40%* 50-65%* 0-10%* 0–10%*
         
* As a percent of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause a Fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) may modify the target allocation ranges only with the approval of a Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Fund including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Prospectus 2014 9

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
10 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 5.29%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -5.82%
Prospectus 2014 11

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 05/07/2010 7.12% 6.98%
Class 4 05/07/2010 7.11% 7.05%
Blended Index (consists of 60% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 24.5% Russell 3000 Index, 10.5% MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) and 5% Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes on the MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. portion of the Blended Index but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   7.81% 6.96% (a)
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.55% 17.82%
MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   15.29% 10.06%
Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   0.05% 0.08% (a)
  
(a) Returns from 04/30/10
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract or life insurance policy with RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies) and allocating your purchase payments to the Account that invests in the Fund.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus, as applicable, for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
12 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio (Moderate Portfolio or the Fund) seeks to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderate level of risk.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2 Class 4
Management fees 0.00% 0.00%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.02% 0.02%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.72% 0.72%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 0.99% 0.99%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $101 $315 $547 $1,213
Class 4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $101 $315 $547 $1,213
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds. An underlying fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and
Prospectus 2014 13

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio (continued)
fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset class categories) within the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Moderate Portfolio 40-55%* 40-55%* 0-5%* 0–10%*
         
* As a percent of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause a Fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) may modify the target allocation ranges only with the approval of a Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Fund including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
14 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Prospectus 2014 15

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 7.16%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -8.81%
16 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 5/7/2010 11.36% 8.88%
Class 4 5/7/2010 11.43% 8.92%
Blended Index (consists of 50% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 35% Russell 3000 Index, 15% MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net)) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes on the MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. portion of the Blended Index, but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   12.10% 9.70%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.55% 17.82%
MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   15.29% 10.06%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract or life insurance policy with RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies) and allocating your purchase payments to the Account that invests in the Fund.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus, as applicable, for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 17

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (Moderately Aggressive Portfolio or the Fund) seeks to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderately aggressive level of risk.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2 Class 4
Management fees 0.00% 0.00%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.02% 0.02%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.76% 0.76%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 1.03% 1.03%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $105 $328 $569 $1,259
Class 4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $105 $328 $569 $1,259
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds. An underlying fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and
18 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset class categories) within the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Moderately Aggressive Portfolio 55-70%* 25-40%* 0-5%* 0–10%*
         
* As a percent of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause a Fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) may modify the target allocation ranges only with the approval of a Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Fund including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Prospectus 2014 19

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
20 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 9.07%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -11.78%
Prospectus 2014 21

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 05/07/2010 16.07% 10.47%
Class 4 05/07/2010 16.05% 10.51%
Blended Index (consists of 45.5% Russell 3000 Index, 35% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and 19.5% MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net)) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   16.65% 11.48%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.55% 17.82%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   15.29% 10.06%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract or life insurance policy with RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies) and allocating your purchase payments to the Account that invests in the Fund.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus, as applicable, for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
22 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio
Investment Objective
Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio (Aggressive Portfolio or the Fund) seeks to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with an aggressive level of risk.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2 Class 4
Management fees 0.00% 0.00%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.03% 0.03%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.80% 0.80%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 1.08% 1.08%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
 Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $110 $343 $595 $1,317
Class 4 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $110 $343 $595 $1,317
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund and underlying funds pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds. An underlying fund’s higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and
Prospectus 2014 23

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Fund may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset class categories) within the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Aggressive Portfolio 70-85%* 10-25%* 0-5%* 0–10%*
         
* As a percent of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause a Fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table. Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) may modify the target allocation ranges only with the approval of a Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Fund including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
24 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Prospectus 2014 25

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 10.79%
Worst

3rd Quarter 2011 -14.50%
26 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Summary of Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 05/07/2010 20.74% 12.09%
Class 4 05/07/2010 20.71% 12.13%
Blended Index (consists of 56% Russell 3000 Index, 24% MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) and 20% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes on the MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. portion of the Blended Index but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   21.36% 13.24%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   33.55% 17.82%
MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   15.29% 10.06%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 3.54%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract or life insurance policy with RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies) and allocating your purchase payments to the Account that invests in the Fund.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus, as applicable, for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Prospectus 2014 27

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
More Information About the Funds
Investment Objectives
The objective of each Fund is to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with an acceptable level of risk. The following paragraphs highlight the objectives and compare each Fund’s levels of risk and potential for return relative to one another.
Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio (Conservative Portfolio) is designed for investors seeking a high level of total return that is consistent with a conservative level of risk. The Fund may be most appropriate for investors with a shorter-term investment horizon. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio (Moderately Conservative Portfolio) is designed for investors seeking a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderately conservative level of risk. The Fund may be most appropriate for investors with a short-to-intermediate term investment horizon. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio (Moderate Portfolio) is designed for investors seeking a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderate level of risk. The Fund may be most appropriate for investors with an intermediate term investment horizon. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio (Moderately Aggressive Portfolio) is designed for investors seeking a high level of total return that is consistent with a moderately aggressive level of risk. The Fund may be most appropriate for investors with an intermediate-to-long term investment horizon. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio (Aggressive Portfolio) is designed for investors seeking a high level of total return that is consistent with an aggressive level of risk. The Fund may be most appropriate for investors with a longer-term investment horizon. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Conservative Portfolio, Moderately Conservative Portfolio, Moderate Portfolio, Moderately Aggressive Portfolio and Aggressive Portfolio are singularly and collectively, where the context requires, referred to as either “the Fund,” “each Fund” or “the Funds.”
The funds in which the Funds invest are referred to as the “underlying funds” or “acquired funds.” Investments by the Funds referred to above are made through investments in underlying funds or derivative instruments.
Please remember that you may not buy (nor will you own) shares of a Fund directly. You invest by buying a variable annuity contract or life insurance policy (Contracts) and allocating your purchase payments or premiums to the variable subaccount or variable account that invests in the Fund.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Funds are intended for investors who have an objective of achieving a high level of total return consistent with a certain level of risk, but prefer to have investment decisions managed by professional money managers. Each Fund is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of underlying funds for which Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) or an affiliate acts as investment manager or principal underwriter. Columbia Management is the investment manager for each of the Funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Funds seek to minimize the risks associated with investing in a single fund.
The Funds seek to achieve their objectives by investing in a combination of underlying funds representing three primary asset classes: equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalents, as well as underlying funds that pursue alternative investment strategies (alternative strategies), including those that seek investment returns uncorrelated to the broad equity and fixed income markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets, including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. The Funds may also invest in derivatives such as index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and
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indexed-based credit default swaps. Under normal circumstances, the Funds intend to invest, directly or indirectly, in each of equity, fixed income and cash/cash equivalent asset classes and alternative strategies (each an asset class category and collectively the asset categories) with the following target asset allocation ranges (includes investments in underlying funds and derivatives):
    
Asset Class Exposures*
(Target Allocation Range – Under Normal Circumstances)*
  Equity Fixed Income Cash/Cash
Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Conservative Portfolio 10-25% 60-75% 5-15% 0-10%
Moderately Conservative Portfolio 25-40% 50-65% 0-10% 0-10%
Moderate Portfolio 40-55% 40-55% 0-5% 0–10%
Moderately Aggressive Portfolio 55-70% 25-40% 0-5% 0–10%
Aggressive Portfolio 70-85% 10-25% 0–5% 0–10%
         
* As a percentage of Fund net assets. Ranges include the net notional amounts of a Fund’s direct investments in derivative instruments. Market appreciation or depreciation may cause the Fund to be temporarily outside the range identified in the table. The Investment Manager may modify the target allocation ranges only upon approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board).
In managing the Funds, the Investment Manager considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates, an independent investment consultant, on a broad range of aspects related to the management of the Funds including, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying funds, the types of investment categories represented by the underlying funds, and the consideration of additional underlying funds. The Investment Manager retains full discretion over the Funds’ investment activities.
The Investment Manager monitors underlying fund selections, allocations and investment performance, and will take actions it deems appropriate to position the Funds to achieve their investment objectives, including investing in any underlying fund, adding new underlying funds, and altering target allocations as necessary. The Investment Manager implements the Funds’ asset allocation process by directing net cash inflows (outflows) to purchase (redeem) shares of the underlying funds which are underweight (overweight) the then-current target allocation, purchasing or redeeming shares of the underlying funds to maintain or change the percentage of a Fund’s assets invested in the underlying funds, or investing directly in derivatives to seek targeted asset class levels.
The Funds may also invest directly in derivatives to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, or to obtain or reduce credit exposure. Derivatives that the Funds may invest in include index futures, Treasury futures, currency forwards, index-based total return swaps and index-based credit default swaps.
Underlying Funds
Each Fund has exposure to risks of many areas of the market through its investments in the underlying funds and derivatives. Below are the underlying funds available to the Funds for investment within each asset class category. Certain underlying funds, due to their characteristics, may fit into more than one category, and may be used by the Investment Manager for those purposes. A description of the underlying funds’ investment objectives and strategies is included in Appendix A. A description of the principal risks associated with these underlying funds is included in Appendix B. The prospectuses and statements of additional information for the underlying funds include more detailed information about these underlying funds and are available free of charge by calling 800.345.6611.
    
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Equity Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio-Marsico 21st Century Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio-Marsico Focused Equities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio-Marsico Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio-Marsico International Opportunities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio-Select Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Pyramis® International Equity Fund, Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund, Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund and Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund.
Fixed Income Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund, Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund, Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund and Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund.
Cash/Cash Equivalent Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio-Cash Management Fund.
Alternative Strategy Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund, Variable Portfolio – AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Variable Portfolio – Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund.
Pyramis is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Used under license.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a
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particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of these derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country's or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. Unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund or losses. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. The Fund’s use of these instruments may not achieve their objective. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with
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delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. The use of total return swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party makes periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
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Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The selected underlying funds’ performance may be lower than the performance of the asset class they were selected to represent or may be lower than the performance of alternative underlying funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objectives. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for an underlying fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of an underlying fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
References to “the Fund” throughout the remainder of the prospectus refer to each Fund singularly or collectively as the context requires.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
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Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds” (such as the Fund(s) offered in this prospectus), and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to
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realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Affiliated Products
Shares of the Fund are currently available solely to holders of variable annuity contracts (Contracts) issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, RiverSource Life), including where the Contract holder has elected a guaranteed benefit rider that requires investment in the Fund (the Rider). RiverSource Life is an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial, which is the parent company of Columbia Management, the Fund’s investment manager. RiverSource Life has financial obligations to holders of the Riders arising from guarantee obligations under such Riders, which vary based upon the investment performance of the Fund. RiverSource Life expects to benefit financially by offering this Fund, compared to offering other types of funds, in Contracts with Riders. For example, RiverSource Life expects to reduce its costs to purchase hedge investments associated with Contract liabilities tied to this Fund. It also expects to benefit from the greater liquidity of hedge investments used to meet its obligations under the Riders. In addition, it expects to reduce its capital requirements, which represent assets RiverSource Life sets aside to back the guarantees offered in its Contracts. As described above, RiverSource Life has a financial interest in reducing its potential exposure with respect to Contract values invested under the Riders. This may present a potential conflict of interest with respect to the interests of the holders of the Riders (who are required to allocate their Contract value to the Fund). In particular, RiverSource Life’s interest in reducing volatility within the Fund’s portfolio may present a potential conflict between it and Columbia Management as the latter seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of “total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility.” The Fund may also be owned by Contract holders who have not elected the Rider.
Columbia Management has a framework in place to ensure its management of the Fund is effected in the best interests of the Fund, without undue influence from RiverSource Life. Although an investment in the Fund may have the effect of mitigating declines in your Contract value whether or not you have elected a Rider, in the event of a significant decline in the equity markets, the strategy followed by the Fund, if successful, will also generally result in your Contract value increasing to a lesser degree than the equity markets, or decreasing when the values of equity investments are stable or rising. Depending on future market conditions and considering only the potential return on your investment in the Fund, you might benefit (or benefit more) from selecting alternate investments options. In addition, there is no guarantee that the Fund’s strategy will have its intended effect, or that it will work as effectively as is intended.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various
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More Information About the Funds (continued)
purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the Fund's website may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The fee arrangements, as of the date of this prospectus, are reflected in the expense ratios and are not adjusted to reflect the Fund’s average net assets as of the date of this prospectus or a later date, as the Fund’s asset level will fluctuate. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected to provide a limit to the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (a) distribution and/or service fees; and (b) other expenses.
In addition to the total annual Fund operating expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund’s shareholders indirectly bear the expenses of the underlying funds (or acquired funds) in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” shown are based on its allocations to the underlying funds. Because acquired funds will have varied expense and fee levels and the Fund may own different proportions of acquired funds at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred by the Fund with respect to such investments will vary.
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FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio
Class 2 0.32%
Class 4 0.32%
    
Variable Portfolio - Moderately Conservative Portfolio
Class 2 0.32%
Class 4 0.32%
    
Variable Portfolio - Moderate Portfolio
Class 2 0.32%
Class 4 0.32%
    
Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
Class 2 0.32%
Class 4 0.32%
    
Variable Portfolio - Aggressive Portfolio
Class 2 0.32%
Class 4 0.32%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
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Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates. At present, the Investment Manager has not engaged any investment subadviser for the Fund.
The Funds do not pay the Investment Manager a direct management fee for managing their assets. Under the Funds’ investment management services agreement, however, each Fund pays its taxes, brokerage commissions and nonadvisory expenses. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Funds' investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Lead manager   February 2013
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2010
Mr. Knight joined the Investment Manager in February 2013 as Head of Global Asset Allocation. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Knight was at Putnam Investments. Mr. Knight began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business.
Mr. Bergene joined the Investment Manager in 1981. Mr. Bergene began his investment career in 1981 and earned a B.S. from the University of North Dakota.
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The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
Under the Distribution Agreement and related distribution and shareholder servicing plans, the Distributor receives distribution and shareholder servicing fees on Class 2 and Class 4 shares. The Distributor uses these fees to support its distribution and servicing activity for Class 2 and Class 4 shares. Fees paid by the Fund for these services are set forth under Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees in the expense table under Fees and Expenses of the Fund for each Fund in the Summary of the Fund section of this prospectus. More information on how these fees are used is set forth under “Buying, Selling and Transferring Shares – Description of Share Classes” and in the SAI.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
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More Information About the Funds (continued)
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions
References to the “Fund” throughout this section refer to each Fund, singularly or collectively, and Underlying Funds, as the context requires.
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 2 and Class 4 shares.
    
  Class 2 Shares Class 4 Shares
Eligible Investors Class 2 shares are offered to Accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by affiliated life insurance companies. Class 4 shares are offered to participants in the Portfolio Navigator Program, and to owners of other series of annuity contracts or life insurance policies issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company or RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York, as described in the prospectus for that annuity contract or life insurance policy.
Investment Limits none none
Conversion Features none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees 0.25% 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 and Class 4 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25% and the distribution fee for Class 4 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day. Any affiliated underlying funds calculate their NAV in the same manner as the Fund calculates its NAV.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners. When you sell your shares through your Contract, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and may also be available to other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Additional Discussion of Potential Conflicts of Interest Relating to Funds Used Exclusively by Affiliated Insurance Companies
The Fund is sold exclusively as underlying investment options of the Contracts offered by RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies). The Investment Manager and its affiliates make or support payments out of their own resources to the Companies as a result of
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
the Companies including the Fund as an investment option in the Contracts. These allocations may be significant. In addition, employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of the Companies, may be separately incented to include the Fund in the Contracts, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. These Contracts may also include unaffiliated mutual funds as investment options, and the Companies receive payments from the sponsors of these unaffiliated mutual funds as a result of including these funds in the products. The amount of payment from sponsors of unaffiliated funds or allocation from the Investment Manager and its affiliates varies, and may be significant. The amount of the payment or allocation the Companies receive from a Fund may create an incentive for the Companies and may influence their decision regarding which funds to include in a Contract. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers, may be separately incented to recommend or sell shares of the Fund, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investments in the Fund increase. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including Columbia Management, and the Distributor, and the products they offer, including the Fund. These arrangements are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing payments,” and are in addition to any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees or other amounts paid by the Fund for account maintenance, sub-accounting or recordkeeping services provided directly by the Companies. See About Fund Shares and Transactions - Selling Agent Compensation for more information generally about selling agent compensation and the Contract prospectus for more information regarding these payments and allocations relating to your Contract.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company , before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract. Any charges that apply to your Contract, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies that may own shares directly, are described in your Contract prospectus.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade
Prospectus 2014 45

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders. The risks of excessive trading described above also apply to any underlying funds in which the Fund invests.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Distributions and Taxes
References to the “Fund” throughout this section refer to each Fund, singularly or collectively, and Underlying Funds, as the context requires.
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Because the Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes, it is not required to and does not expect to make regular distributions to its shareholders (other than in redemption of Fund shares), but may do so in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (or its delegates).
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were not to qualify for such treatment, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level, which would reduce the value of an investment in the Fund.
As a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership,” the Fund is not itself subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each shareholder will be required to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes its allocable share of a Fund’s income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other tax items, without regard to whether such shareholder has received or will receive corresponding distributions from the Fund.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes allocations or distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts, or if the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership.”
Prospectus 2014 47

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
48 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights
Variable Portfolio-Conservative Portfolio
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of expenses that apply are imposed under your Contract, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Inclusion of these charges would reduce total return for all periods shown.
The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.65 $10.86 $10.52 $9.93
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.22 0.18 0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.21 0.57 0.16 0.55
Total from investment operations 0.37 0.79 0.34 0.59
Net asset value, end of period $12.02 $11.65 $10.86 $10.52
Total return 3.18% 7.27% 3.23% 5.94%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.28% 0.27% 0.27% 0.28% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.28% 0.27% 0.27% 0.28% (c)
Net investment income 1.32% 1.92% 1.73% 0.55% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $787,736 $1,113,897 $747,744 $237,556
Portfolio turnover 34% 10% 14% 28%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 49

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 4 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.65 $10.86 $10.52 $9.93
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.22 0.18 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.20 0.57 0.16 0.47
Total from investment operations 0.36 0.79 0.34 0.59
Net asset value, end of period $12.01 $11.65 $10.86 $10.52
Total return 3.09% 7.27% 3.23% 5.94%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.28% 0.27% 0.27% 0.28% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.28% 0.27% 0.25% 0.22% (c)
Net investment income 1.33% 1.89% 1.67% 1.84% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,470,726 $2,407,365 $2,096,659 $1,840,530
Portfolio turnover 34% 10% 14% 28%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
50 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Conservative Portfolio
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of expenses that apply are imposed under your Contract, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Inclusion of these charges would reduce total return for all periods shown.
The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.93 $10.97 $10.77 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.15 0.19 0.18 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.70 0.77 0.02 0.75
Total from investment operations 0.85 0.96 0.20 0.78
Net asset value, end of period $12.78 $11.93 $10.97 $10.77
Total return 7.12% 8.75% 1.86% 7.81%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Net investment income 1.24% 1.65% 1.69% 0.43% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,968,131 $2,256,492 $1,563,684 $639,226
Portfolio turnover 23% 8% 3% 29%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 4 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $11.96 $10.99 $10.78 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.15 0.19 0.18 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain 0.70 0.78 0.03 0.69
Total from investment operations 0.85 0.97 0.21 0.79
Net asset value, end of period $12.81 $11.96 $10.99 $10.78
Total return 7.11% 8.83% 1.95% 7.91%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.28% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.26% 0.24% 0.21% (c)
Net investment income 1.24% 1.64% 1.61% 1.52% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,570,296 $4,401,488 $4,050,272 $4,095,896
Portfolio turnover 23% 8% 3% 29%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
52 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
Variable Portfolio-Moderate Portfolio
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of expenses that apply are imposed under your Contract, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Inclusion of these charges would reduce total return for all periods shown.
The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.24 $11.04 $11.01 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.18 0.19 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.23 1.02 (0.16) 0.99
Total from investment operations 1.39 1.20 0.03 1.02
Net asset value, end of period $13.63 $12.24 $11.04 $11.01
Total return 11.36% 10.87% 0.27% 10.21%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Net investment income 1.24% 1.50% 1.76% 0.46% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $8,081,681 $7,058,383 $5,190,987 $2,208,757
Portfolio turnover 23% 12% 3% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 53

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 4 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.25 $11.05 $11.01 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.16 0.17 0.19 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.24 1.03 (0.15) 0.92
Total from investment operations 1.40 1.20 0.04 1.02
Net asset value, end of period $13.65 $12.25 $11.05 $11.01
Total return 11.43% 10.86% 0.36% 10.21%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.25% 0.23% 0.20% (c)
Net investment income 1.24% 1.48% 1.69% 1.53% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $15,354,056 $14,632,327 $14,174,096 $15,503,050
Portfolio turnover 23% 12% 3% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
54 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
Variable Portfolio-Moderately Aggressive Portfolio
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of expenses that apply are imposed under your Contract, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Inclusion of these charges would reduce total return for all periods shown.
The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.38 $11.03 $11.19 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.14 0.13 0.16 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.85 1.22 (0.32) 1.17
Total from investment operations 1.99 1.35 (0.16) 1.20
Net asset value, end of period $14.37 $12.38 $11.03 $11.19
Total return 16.07% 12.24% (1.43%) 12.01%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Net investment income 1.03% 1.06% 1.43% 0.43% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $5,027,271 $3,989,411 $3,179,010 $1,310,385
Portfolio turnover 19% 13% 6% 18%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 55

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 4 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.40 $11.05 $11.20 $9.99
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.14 0.13 0.15 0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 1.85 1.22 (0.30) 1.13
Total from investment operations 1.99 1.35 (0.15) 1.21
Net asset value, end of period $14.39 $12.40 $11.05 $11.20
Total return 16.05% 12.22% (1.34%) 12.11%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.27% 0.25% 0.23% 0.20% (c)
Net investment income 1.05% 1.05% 1.34% 1.18% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $8,457,620 $8,377,366 $8,792,865 $9,941,377
Portfolio turnover 19% 13% 6% 18%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
56 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
Variable Portfolio-Aggressive Portfolio
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect payment of expenses that apply are imposed under your Contract, if any, and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Inclusion of these charges would reduce total return for all periods shown.
The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal periods has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.44 $10.94 $11.29 $9.90
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.10 0.08 0.11 0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.48 1.42 (0.46) 1.38
Total from investment operations 2.58 1.50 (0.35) 1.39
Net asset value, end of period $15.02 $12.44 $10.94 $11.29
Total return 20.74% 13.71% (3.10%) 14.04%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.28% 0.27% 0.28% 0.27% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.28% 0.27% 0.28% 0.27% (c)
Net investment income 0.72% 0.65% 0.99% 0.19% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,404,526 $997,395 $785,070 $284,243
Portfolio turnover 27% 12% 6% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 57

Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 4 2013 2012 2011 2010 (a)
Per share data        
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.46 $10.96 $11.29 $9.90
Income from investment operations:        
Net investment income 0.10 0.08 0.10 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2.48 1.42 (0.43) 1.36
Total from investment operations 2.58 1.50 (0.33) 1.39
Net asset value, end of period $15.04 $12.46 $10.96 $11.29
Total return 20.71% 13.69% (2.92%) 14.04%
Ratios to average net assets (b)        
Total gross expenses 0.28% 0.27% 0.28% 0.28% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.28% 0.24% 0.20% 0.17% (c)
Net investment income 0.72% 0.66% 0.92% 0.46% (c)
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,377,267 $2,169,995 $2,297,542 $2,618,433
Portfolio turnover 27% 12% 6% 20%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from May 7, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Appendix A
Underlying Funds — Investment Objectives and Strategies
The following is a brief description of the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of certain of the Underlying Funds (which are referred to as Funds in the descriptions below) in which the Funds may invest as part of their principal investment strategies. The Investment Manager may add new Underlying Funds for investment or change Underlying Funds without the approval of shareholders. The Investment Manager does not necessarily invest Fund assets in each of the Underlying Funds listed below. Additional information regarding the Underlying Funds is available in their prospectus and SAI. This prospectus is not an offer for any of the Underlying Funds. For copies of prospectuses of the Underlying Funds, which contains this and other information, call 800.345.6611. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with maximum current income consistent with liquidity and stability of principal.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in money market instruments, such as marketable debt obligations issued by corporations or the U.S. Government or its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, and commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks and U.S. Government securities. Additionally, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments.
Because the Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, capital appreciation is not expected to play a role in the Fund’s return. The Fund’s yield will vary from day to day.
The Fund restricts its investments to instruments that meet certain maturity and quality standards required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for money market funds. For example, the Fund:
Invests substantially in securities rated in the highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund is permitted to invest up to 3% of its total assets in securities rated in the second highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality.
Limits its U.S. dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity to 60 days or less and its U.S. dollar-weighted average life to 120 days or less.
Buys obligations with remaining maturities of 397 days or less (as maturity is calculated by SEC rules governing the operation of money market funds).
Buys only obligations that are denominated in U.S. dollars and present minimal credit risk.
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to maintain substantial economic exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. The Fund invests, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of commodity-linked investments, including commodity-linked futures, structured notes and/or swaps that are designed to provide exposure to the investment return of assets that trade in the commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. A substantial portion of the Fund’s net assets will also be invested in a portfolio of fixed income securities rated investment-grade or, if unrated, deemed of comparable quality, which will consist primarily of: (i) U.S. Government securities, corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and/or asset-backed securities; and/or (ii) shares of an affiliated money market fund. In addition to investing in these holdings for their income-producing potential, these holdings will be designated by the Fund, as necessary, to serve as collateral with respect to the Fund’s commodity-linked investments.
The Fund primarily expects to gain exposure to the commodities markets by investing up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized as a company under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Subsidiary). The Subsidiary’s commodity-linked investments are expected to produce leveraged exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. It is expected that the gross notional value of the Fund’s (including the Subsidiary’s) commodity-linked investments will be equivalent to at least 90% of the Fund’s net assets. Like the Fund, the Subsidiary will not invest directly in physical commodities. The Subsidiary also invests in investment-grade fixed income securities and shares of an affiliated money market fund for investment purposes or to serve as collateral for its commodity-linked investments. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary
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permits it to gain exposure to the commodities markets in a potentially tax-efficient manner. The Subsidiary has the same investment objective as the Fund and, like the Fund, is managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) and subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited (Threadneedle).
Derivatives, such as futures, options, structured notes and swaps, may also be utilized to produce incremental earnings, hedge existing positions, increase market exposure and/or increase investment flexibility. Actual exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may engage in derivative transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges or in the “over-the-counter” (OTC) market.
In constructing the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio, Threadneedle seeks to identify a portfolio of investment-grade fixed income securities, generally with a dollar-weighted average portfolio duration of 1 year or less.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of long-term capital appreciation and current income.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks. In addition, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that have large market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion) that the Fund’s investment manager believes are undervalued and have the potential for long-term growth and current income.
The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Core Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. The Fund generally invests at least 65% of its assets in debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, debt securities issued by corporations and other private issuers, and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in dollar-denominated debt securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities and up to 20% of its assets in preferred stock. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity and duration will vary over time depending on expectations for market and economic conditions.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including interest rate futures) and swap contracts (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling instruments (including To Be Announced (TBA) securities) for investment purposes; inverse floaters, options (including listed futures) and collateralized debt obligations for investment purposes; and interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities for hedging and investment purposes. The Fund may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while attempting to conserve the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling transactions (including securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; options (including options on listed futures) for investment purposes; collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment and hedging purposes; and inverse floaters for investment purposes. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, steady growth of capital.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks. The selection of dividend-paying stocks is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as structured investments (e.g., equity-linked notes), for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including, but not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks) of companies located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include those countries whose economies are considered to be developing or emerging from underdevelopment.
The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector. However, the Fund has invested substantially in the information technology and technology-related sectors and may continue to invest substantially in these or other sectors in the future. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund may invest in securities that the investment manager believes are undervalued, represent growth opportunities, or both.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through current income and, secondarily, through capital appreciation.
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The Fund invests primarily in fixed income securities of emerging markets issuers. For these purposes, emerging market countries are generally those either defined by World Bank-defined per capita income brackets or determined to be an emerging market based on the Fund investment team’s qualitative judgments about a country’s level of economic and institutional development, among other factors. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in fixed income securities of issuers that are located in emerging markets countries, or that earn 50% or more of their total revenues from goods or services produced in emerging markets countries or from sales made in emerging markets countries. Fixed income securities may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or the local currency of the issuer. While the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single issuer. The Fund can invest in emerging market sovereign debt instruments of any credit quality including those rated investment grade and below investment grade or considered to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). Although the emerging markets sovereign debt universe largely consists of investment grade instruments, a significant portion of that universe is rated in these lower rating categories. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through income and growth of capital.
The Fund invests primarily in debt obligations of U.S. and foreign issuers. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in investment-grade corporate or government debt obligations, including money market instruments, of issuers located in at least three different countries. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk in seeking to achieve higher dividends and/or capital appreciation by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
In addition, in pursuing its objective, the Fund, relying on quantitative and qualitative analyses, may enter into various currency-, interest rate- and credit-related transactions involving derivatives instruments, including futures contracts (such as currency, bond, treasury, index and interest rate futures) and forward foreign currency contracts (forwards). The use of these derivatives instruments allows the Fund to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected currencies, interest rates and duration risks. The Fund may use these derivatives as well as “to be announced” (TBA) mortgage-backed securities in an effort to produce incremental earnings, for hedging purposes, to obtain increased or decreased exposures to various markets/sectors or to increase investment flexibility. Actual long and short exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
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The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield debt instruments (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds or securities). These high yield debt instruments include corporate debt securities as well as floating rate loans rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments of foreign issuers.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio managers in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s assets are invested primarily in income-producing debt securities, with an emphasis on the higher rated segment of the high-yield (junk bond) market. These income-producing debt securities include corporate debt securities as well as bank loans. The Fund will purchase only securities rated B or above, or if unrated, securities determined to be of comparable quality. If a security falls below a B rating after investment by the Fund, the Fund may continue to hold the security.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio manager in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers that are believed to offer strong growth potential. The Fund may invest in developed and in emerging markets.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund 
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.15 billion to $503.8
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billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that the investment manager believes have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a level of current income consistent with preservation of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds. The Fund will primarily invest in debt securities with short- and intermediate-term maturities generally similar to those included in the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index (the Index). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund targets an average portfolio duration within one year of the duration of the Index which, as of March 31, 2014 was 2.89 years.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21st Century Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21st Century Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies of any capitalization. The Fund typically holds a core position of between 35 and 60 common stocks that are believed to have potential for long-term growth.
The Fund may from time to time exceed this range, including when the Fund is accumulating new positions, phasing out and replacing existing positions, or responding to abnormal market conditions; however, the portfolio manager does not currently intend to hold greater than 75 common stocks. The Fund may invest without limit in foreign securities, including in emerging market securities. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector.
The core investments of the Fund (i.e., the primary investments held by the Fund over time) generally may include established companies and securities that are expected to offer long-term growth potential. However, the Fund's portfolio also may typically include securities of less mature companies, securities with more aggressive growth characteristics, and securities of companies undergoing significant positive developments, such as, without limitation, the introduction of a new product line, the appointment of a new management team, or an acquisition.
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Appendix A (continued)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. These investments mostly consist of equity securities of large-capitalization companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or more at the time of purchase.
The Fund typically holds a core position of between 20 and 35 common stocks that are believed to have potential for long-term growth. The Fund may from time to time exceed this range, including when the Fund is accumulating new positions, phasing out and replacing existing positions, or responding to abnormal market conditions; however, the portfolio managers do not currently intend to hold greater than 50 common stocks. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities, including in emerging market securities.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector, health care sector, and information technology and technology-related sectors.
The core investments of the Fund (i.e., the primary investments held by the Fund over time) generally may include established companies and securities that are expected to offer long-term growth potential. However, the Fund's portfolio also may typically include securities of less mature companies, securities with more aggressive growth characteristics, and securities of companies undergoing significant positive developments, such as, without limitation, the introduction of a new product line, the appointment of a new management team, or an acquisition.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies that have market capitalizations of $5 billion or more at the time of purchase. The Fund typically holds a core position of between 35 and 50 common stocks that are believed to have potential for long-term growth. The Fund may from time to time exceed this range, including when the Fund is accumulating new positions, phasing out and replacing existing positions, or responding to abnormal market conditions; however, the portfolio managers do not currently intend to hold greater than 65 common stocks. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities, including in emerging market securities.
The core investments of the Fund (i.e., the primary investments held by the Fund over time) generally may include established companies and securities that are expected to offer long-term growth potential. However, the Fund's portfolio also may typically include securities of less mature companies, securities with more aggressive growth characteristics, and securities of companies undergoing significant positive developments, such as, without limitation, the introduction of a new product line, the appointment of a new management team, or an acquisition.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in common stocks of foreign companies. The Fund may invest in an unlimited number of companies of any size throughout the world that are selected for their long-term growth potential. The Fund normally invests in issuers from at least three different countries not including the United States. The Fund may invest in common stocks of companies operating in, or economically tied to, emerging market countries. Some issuers or securities in the Fund's portfolio may be based in, or economically tied to, the United States. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors.
The core investments of the Fund (i.e., the primary investments held by the Fund over time) generally may include established companies and securities that are expected to offer long-term growth potential. However, the Fund's portfolio also may typically include securities of less mature companies, securities with more aggressive growth characteristics, and securities of companies undergoing significant positive developments, such as, without limitation, the introduction of a new product line, the appointment of a new management team, or an acquisition.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with growth of capital.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) at the time of purchase in the common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-cap companies are considered to be companies whose market capitalization (number of shares outstanding multiplied by the share price) falls within the market capitalization range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth but may invest in companies for their short, medium or long-term prospects. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies. Medium-sized companies are those whose market capitalizations at the time of purchase fall within the market capitalization range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index) (between $968 million and $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund normally invests in common stocks and also may invest in real estate investment trusts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
The Fund pursues its investment objective through a diversified portfolio reflecting multiple asset classes and strategies employed across different markets, while seeking to limit equity and fixed income market risks (commonly referred to as beta) through various investment and hedging strategies. The Fund’s investments and strategies are expected to employ both long and short positions in foreign and domestic equities (including common stock, preferred stock and convertible securities), equity futures, index futures, swaps, foreign and domestic fixed income securities (including government securities, corporate bonds, sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt obligations and municipal securities), fixed income futures, forward foreign currency contracts, commodity futures, other commodity-related investments, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Actual long and short exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions.
The Fund employs a variety of strategies, techniques and practices that, in the aggregate, are designed to seek positive returns, with a low correlation to the performance of the broad equity and fixed income markets. The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
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Appendix A (continued)
The Fund may invest without limit in foreign investments (including currencies), which may include investments in emerging markets, and in investments that are rated below investment-grade or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as futures (including equity, currency, fixed income, index (including stock, bond, and volatility indexes), commodity, and interest rate futures), forward foreign currency contracts, forward rate agreements and swaps, including interest rate, total return and credit default swaps, in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge or offset existing positions, to increase market, interest rate and credit exposure, to increase investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security, currency, commodity or other instrument) and/or to change the effective duration of the Fund’s portfolio. Futures, forwards and swaps, in particular, are expected to be utilized to gain long and short investment (or credit) exposures to securities, indexes, interest rates and currencies (in lieu of purchasing or selling a security, currency or other instrument directly).
The Fund may invest directly in derivatives or indirectly by investing in one or more offshore, wholly-owned subsidiaries (Subsidiaries) that are subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions, compliance policies and procedures as the Fund, but which are not expected to offer or sell their shares to investors other than the Fund. Generally, Subsidiaries will invest primarily in commodity futures, but they may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiaries’ derivative positions.
Unlike the Fund (which is subject to limitations under federal tax laws), Subsidiaries may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Fund, in combination with its Subsidiaries, will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to the Subsidiaries’ investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund’s direct transactions in derivatives.
The Fund expects to hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments (which may include investments in one or more affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or similar vehicles) or other high-quality, short-term investments to cover obligations with respect to, or that may result from, the Fund’s investments in forward foreign currency contracts, currency futures contracts, commodity-linked investments or other derivatives.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies that have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index, at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of large capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which large market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 30 and 35 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $18 million and $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which smaller market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in debt securities in the following three segments of the debt securities market: (i) securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies, including mortgage- and other asset-backed securities; (ii) securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, including in emerging market countries and non-dollar denominated securities; and (iii) below investment grade corporate debt securities or unrated corporate debt securities determined to be of comparable quality, which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.”
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts for hedging and investment purposes; futures (including bond and interest rate futures) for managing duration and yield curve; forward-settling transactions (including dollar rolls, forward interest rate agreements and securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment and hedging purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps, credit default swap indexes, cross currency swaps, interest rate swaps and total return swaps) for hedging and investment purposes; options (including options on listed futures) for hedging and investment purposes; and collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment purposes. The Fund may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, preservation of capital.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in mortgage-related securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in mortgage-related securities that either are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. This includes, but is not limited to, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) mortgage-backed bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; and Federal National Mortgage
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) mortgage-backed bonds. FNMA and FHLMC are chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress; however, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities.
The Fund’s investments in mortgage-related securities include investments in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market, in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, and/or to obtain or reduce credit exposure.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and certain U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Ginnie Mae is supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Securities issued or guaranteed by other U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. However, they are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as credit default swaps, forward contracts (such as dollar rolls, pair-offs and investments in the To-Be-Announced market) and forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, and to increase market exposure and investment flexibility.
Variable Portfolio – AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund
Variable Portfolio – AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the Fund) seeks positive absolute returns.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of futures contracts, futures-related instruments and swaps across four major asset classes (commodities, currencies, fixed income and equities). The Fund’s universe of investments may include, but is not limited to, global developed and emerging market equity index futures, swaps on equity index futures, equity swaps and currency forwards; commodity futures; swaps on commodity futures; interest rate futures; fixed-income futures; bond futures; swaps on bond futures; and exchange-traded notes, all of which the Fund may invest in directly or indirectly by investing in the Subsidiary (as described below) that invests in those instruments. The Fund’s universe of investments is subject to change under varying market conditions and as these instruments evolve over time. The Fund may invest without limit in foreign instruments, including emerging market instruments. There are no geographic limits on the market exposure of the Fund’s assets and the Fund may concentrate its market exposure in one or more specific geographic
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
regions. This flexibility allows the Fund to look for investments or gain exposure to asset classes and markets around the world, including emerging markets, that it believes will enhance the Fund’s ability to meet its objective. The Fund’s return is expected to be derived principally from changes in the value of securities and its portfolio is expected to consist principally of securities.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
The Fund may invest in securities and instruments, including derivatives, indirectly through an offshore, wholly-owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Subsidiary). The Subsidiary, which is managed by the investment manager and the subadviser, has substantially the same investment objective as the Fund and its investments are consistent with the Fund's investment restrictions. Generally, the Subsidiary will invest in commodity futures and/or swaps, but may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed-income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for certain of the Subsidiary’s positions, including its derivatives positions. Unlike the Fund (which is subject to limitations under U.S. federal tax laws), the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Fund and its Subsidiary will comply on a consolidated basis with asset coverage or segregation requirements. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary.
The Fund and its Subsidiary expect to hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments (which may include investments in one or more affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or similar vehicles), fixed income securities and U.S. Government obligations (including U.S. Treasury bills) or other high-quality, short-term investments, mortgage-backed securities or other liquid assets to meet its segregation obligations in connection with certain investments, including, among others, derivative instruments.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance). Additionally, the Fund’s strategy of investing in derivative instruments and instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, will also contribute to frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than 300%).
Quantitative models are used as part of the investment process for the Fund.
Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return that exceeds the rate of inflation over the long term.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in inflation-protected debt securities. These securities include inflation-indexed bonds of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Government and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities, and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The Fund invests only in securities rated investment grade at the time of purchase by a third-party rating agency or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality. Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in sectors outside the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index USD hedged (the Index). The Fund seeks to maintain an average duration that is within +/– 20% of the duration of the Index.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as futures (including bond and interest rate futures), options (including options on listed futures and options on over-the-counter futures), swaps (including interest rate and inflation rate, caps and floors swaps) and forward contracts, including forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund may enter into derivatives for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes, and to increase flexibility.
The portfolio managers may hedge any portion of the non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in the Fund to the U.S. dollar.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The Fund is a non-diversified fund.
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its total assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment.
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of U.S. companies.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments.
The Subadviser believes that stocks of companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher return potential than stocks of larger companies.
Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large non-U.S. companies associated with developed markets that the Fund’s portfolio managers determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in companies in three or more non-U.S. developed market countries.
Investments for the Fund will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Fund’s portfolio pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Fund will receive dividend income.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts for equity securities and indices to gain market exposure on uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions, and forward foreign currency contracts in connection with the settlement of equity trades or the exchange of one currency for another.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in income producing floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities. These debt obligations will generally be rated non-investment grade by recognized rating agencies (similar to “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund invests in senior floating rate loans of borrowers (Senior Loans). The Fund may also purchase secured and unsecured subordinated loans, second lien loans and subordinate bridge loans (Junior Loans), or other floating rate debt securities, fixed income debt securities and money market instruments. For purposes of the 80% policy, money market holdings with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days will be deemed floating rate assets.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Floating rate loans are debt obligations of companies and other similar entities that have interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate (such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR) plus a premium). Floating rate loans are typically structured and administered by a financial institution that acts as the agent of the lenders participating in the floating rate loan. The Fund may acquire loans directly through the agent or from another holder of the loan by assignment. They are generally valued on a daily basis by independent pricing services.
Variable Portfolio - Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund
Variable Portfolio - Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to maintain substantial economic exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. The Fund primarily gains exposure to the commodities markets by investing in a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Subsidiary) that invests primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments.
The Fund seeks to provide exposure to the commodities markets and returns that correspond to the performance of the Fund’s benchmark, currently the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return (the Index), by investing, indirectly through the Subsidiary, in commodity-linked investments. The Fund also seeks to add incremental returns through the use of “roll-timing” or similar strategies and to enhance returns by investing in fixed-income securities, as described further below. The Index is a composite index of commodity sector returns representing an unleveraged, long-only investment in commodity futures that is diversified across the spectrum of commodities. In pursuing its objective, the Fund attempts to provide exposure to the returns of real assets that trade in the commodity markets without direct investment in physical commodities. Real assets include oil, gas, oil products, industrial and precious metals, livestock, agricultural and meat products, and other tangible assets. Although the Fund seeks to provide exposure to the various commodities and commodities sectors reflected in the Index, the Fund does not attempt to replicate the Index and may invest in securities and instruments that are not included in the Index.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary, which, like the Fund, is managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) and subadvised by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM or the Subadviser). The Subsidiary has the same or substantially the same investment objective as the Fund and its investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment strategies. The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, total return swaps. The Subsidiary may also make any other investments the Fund may make, including investments in fixed-income securities and other investments that serve as collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives positions. Unlike the Fund (which is subject to limitations under U.S. federal tax laws), the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Fund and its Subsidiary will comply on a consolidated basis with asset coverage and segregation requirements.
A commodity-linked derivative is a derivative instrument the value of which is linked to the price movement of a commodity, commodity index, or commodity option or futures contract. Commodity-linked derivatives may include swaps, futures and options. The value of some commodity-linked derivatives may produce leveraged exposure to the price movements to which they are linked, meaning that the gain or loss from the investment is based on a multiple of those price movements. The Fund’s commodity-linked investments provide exposure to the investment returns of commodities markets without investing directly in
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
physical commodities. The commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund indirectly invests may be linked to the price movements of tangible assets, a commodity index or some other readily measurable variable that reflects changes in the value of particular commodities or commodities markets. In addition to its indirect investment in commodity-linked derivatives, the Fund may invest in other derivative instruments, such as swaps, forwards, futures and related options, to seek to increase total return and/or for hedging purposes.
The Fund also attempts to enhance returns by investing in fixed-income securities, such as corporate securities, U.S. government securities (including agency debentures), mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. The average duration of these fixed-income securities will vary. GSAM may use interest rate derivatives, including interest rate futures and swaps, to manage the duration of the Fund’s fixed-income investment portfolio. In addition, in connection with its use of derivatives, the Fund may hold directly or indirectly through the Subsidiary significant amounts of cash, which may be invested in U.S. government securities and short-term debt instruments, including money market funds.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Variable Portfolio - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
The Fund invests primarily in U.S. companies. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 45 and 60 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund’s assets are primarily invested in equity securities and depositary receipts of foreign issuers. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in securities of companies located in at least three countries outside the U.S., which may include significant investment in companies in the developed countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Basin. The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities that provide exposure to emerging markets. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers of any market capitalization, including both large- and mid-capitalization issuers. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure, and futures contracts (including index futures) to seek exposure to the broad market in connection with managing cash balances or to hedge against downside risk. The Fund may also hold warrants in connection with the acquisition of securities.
Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while conserving the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. Although the Fund is not an index fund, it invests primarily in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The Fund does not expect to invest in securities rated below investment grade, although it may hold securities that, subsequent to the Fund’s investment, have been downgraded to a below investment grade rating.
Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization that falls within the range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.1 billion to $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector.
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund will not concentrate its assets in any single industry but may from time to time invest more than 25% of its assets in companies conducting business in various industries within an economic sector. The Fund will typically invest in a limited number of companies.
Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund’s assets are invested primarily in equity securities. The Fund invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are believed to be undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies). Value companies tend to have stock prices that are low relative to their earnings, dividends, assets, or other financial measures.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, equity interests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and depositary receipts for such securities. While the Fund may invest its assets in companies of any size, the Fund generally focuses on large-capitalization companies. Large-capitalization companies are defined by the Fund as those companies with market capitalizations of at least $5 billion at the time of purchase.
Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of non-U.S. small cap companies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of non-U.S. small cap companies.
The Fund’s subadviser is an active, value-oriented, defensive manager that emphasizes small-cap opportunities for the Fund. The subadviser considers small cap companies to be those companies whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, falls within the range of companies in the MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (the Index). The Index is composed of stocks which are categorized as small capitalization stocks and is designed to measure equity performance in 23 global developed markets, excluding the U.S. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $26 million to $9 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may also invest in emerging markets. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to defensively hedge the currency of existing positions. The Fund also may purchase foreign currency in order to purchase foreign securities.
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Table of Contents
Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies in the real estate industry located throughout the world (Global Real Estate Companies). The Fund will invest primarily in companies in the real estate industry located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets. A company is considered to be in the real estate industry if it (i) derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from the ownership, construction, management, financing or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate or (ii) has at least 50% of the fair market value of its assets invested in residential, commercial or industrial real estate. Companies in the real estate industry include, among others, real estate operating companies (REOCs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and similar entities formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in Global Real Estate Companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. As a result, the Fund may make substantial investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital and income.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies that pay or are expected to pay dividends.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund also may invest in real estate investment trusts.
Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies with a market capitalization in excess of $4 billion at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector.
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in the equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of purchase, of up to $2.5 billion, or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $61 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each of the Subadvisers employs an active investment strategy.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small cap companies. For these purposes, small cap companies are those that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index). The Fund may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $18 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each of the subadvisers employs an active investment strategy that focuses on small companies in an attempt to take advantage of what are believed to be undervalued securities.
Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers, located or traded in countries other than the U.S., that are believed to offer strong growth potential. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests its assets in common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations fall within the range of the companies that comprise the MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $665 million to $242.95 billion as of March 31, 2014. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies located in countries outside the United States, including issuers in emerging markets countries. Equity securities include, without limitation, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks.
Although the Fund may invest in companies across all market capitalizations, the Fund invests primarily in companies that, at the time of purchase, have a minimum market capitalization of $1 billion.
The Fund invests primarily in companies that are located in the countries represented in the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index), which includes developed countries outside of North America. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in companies that are located in countries not represented in the Index, such as emerging markets countries. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of companies listed on a non-U.S. securities exchange or quoted on an established foreign over-the-counter market, or American Depositary Receipts.
The Fund may invest in forward foreign currency contracts primarily for hedging purposes.
Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in dividend-paying common stocks. The Fund invests in dividend-paying, growth-oriented companies that are believed to exhibit the potential for growth and growing dividend. The Fund may invest in large to medium-sized companies with market capitalizations of at least $2 billion at the time of the Fund’s investment.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities, including debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, bank loans and other obligations. The Fund invests at least 60% of its net assets in debt securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity or duration at the Fund level.
Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign investments, which may include investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, as well as investments in emerging markets securities. In connection with its strategy relating to foreign investments, the Fund may buy or sell foreign currencies in lieu of or in addition to non-dollar denominated fixed-income securities in order to increase or decrease its exposure to foreign interest rate and/or currency markets.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including currency, fixed income, index and interest rate futures), forward foreign currency contracts, forward rate agreements, options (including options on currencies, interest rates and swap agreements, which are commonly referred to as swaptions), swap contracts (including swaps on fixed income futures and credit default, cross-currency, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments, including instruments commonly known as mortgage derivatives, such as inverse floaters, To Be Announced (TBA) securities, and interest-only (IO), principal-only (PO), inverse IO and tiered index bonds. The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market or credit exposure and investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security, currency or other asset), and/or to manage duration and yield curve of the Fund. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, the Fund considers mid-cap companies to be those whose market capitalization falls within the range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014.
The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income consistent with capital preservation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. Government obligations, including debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets within non-government mortgage and asset-backed securities.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix A (continued)
In pursuit of its objective, the Fund will purchase only securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, within the two highest rating categories assigned by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, or if deemed to be of comparable quality. As part of the Fund’s investment strategy, it may invest in stripped securities (securities that have been transformed from a principal amount with periodic interest coupons into a series of zero-coupon bonds, with the range of maturities matching the coupon payment dates and the redemption date of the principal amount) or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements. In addition, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, and to a lesser extent, other securities rated AA- or Aa3 that the Fund’s subadviser believes will sufficiently outperform U.S. Treasuries. Generally, the portfolio’s overall dollar-weighted average effective duration is less than that of a 3-year U.S. Treasury note.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B
Underlying Funds — Risks
The ability of each Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to its allocation among underlying funds and the ability of those underlying funds to meet their investment objectives, as well as the investment performance of the Funds’ other investments.  The following is a brief description of certain of the principal risks associated with investment in the underlying funds in which the Funds may invest as part of their principal investment strategies.  The Funds are subject directly to these risks to the extent they invest in individual securities and other instruments.  Additional information regarding the principal risks associated with investment in the underlying funds is available in the applicable underlying fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.  This prospectus is not an offer for any of the underlying funds.
The references in each case to the “Fund” within each of the below risks descriptions in this Appendix B refers to the underlying fund(s) that the Funds invest in.
Active Management Risk. Certain Funds are actively managed by their portfolio managers. Certain other Funds are managed based primarily on quantitative methods, with the portfolio managers conducting a qualitative review of the quantitative output. In either case, the Funds could underperform their benchmark indices and/or other funds with a similar investment objective. The Funds may fail to achieve their investment objectives and you may lose money.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes and/or investments will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund's asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk (i.e., the risk that the Fund will have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulatory Risk. The Fund does not qualify for an exemption from registration as a “commodity pool” under rules of the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA). Accordingly, the Fund is a commodity pool under the CEA and the Investment Manager is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. The Fund is subject to dual regulation by the SEC and the CFTC. Compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.
Commodity-related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include demand for the commodity, weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international, regulatory and other developments. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the value of the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than other types of investments. Commodities investments may also subject the Fund to counterparty risk and liquidity risk.
Commodity-related Tax Risk. If the Fund does not appropriately limit its commodity-related investments or if such investments are re-characterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund may be unable to qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years, which would adversely affect the value of the Fund (and the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies). In this event, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Fund concentrates its investment in particular issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries or sectors, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries, sectors or investments.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
Confidential Information Access Risk. The Investment Manager normally will seek to avoid the receipt of material, non-public information (Confidential Information) about the issuers of floating rate loans (including from the issuer itself) being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. The investment manager’s decision not to receive Confidential Information may disadvantage the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk. Investments in commodity-linked structured notes involve substantial risks, including risk of loss of interest and principal, lack of a liquid secondary market, and risk of greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and debt markets. These instruments involve additional risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps Risk.  Commodity-linked swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset (e.g., a particular commodity) or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. These transactions involve risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and interest rate risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value, as well being subject to liquidity risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
Foreign Currency-related Tax Risk. The Internal Revenue Service might issue regulations treating gains from some of the Fund’s foreign currency-denominated positions as not “qualifying income” and there is a remote possibility that such regulations might be applied retroactively, in which case, the Fund might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In the event the Treasury Department issues such regulations, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may include highly leveraged transactions whereby the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Industry Concentration Risk.  Investments that are concentrated in a particular industry will make the Fund’s portfolio value more susceptible to the events or conditions impacting that particular industry. Because the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by banks, the value of the Fund may be adversely affected by economic, political or regulatory developments in or that impact the banking industry.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
Initial Public Offering (IPO) Risk. IPOs are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. To the extent the Fund determines to invest in IPOs, it may not be able to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO are available to the Fund. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able to do so.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Investing in Other Funds Risk. The Fund’s investment in other funds (affiliated and/or unaffiliated funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) subjects the Fund to the investment performance (positive or negative) and risks of these underlying funds in direct proportion to the Fund’s investment therein. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds, as well as a potential conflict in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds.
Investing in Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-linked investments held by the Subsidiary are similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund, and thus, are subject to the same risks as the Fund (which are described in this prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund's assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund's obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
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Appendix B (continued)
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of investments at $1.00 per share, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. The Fund will also be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from its investments in derivatives.
Money Market Fund Risk. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit, and is not insured or guaranteed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager's parent, the FDIC or any other government agency, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, but the net asset values of money market fund shares can fall, and in infrequent cases in the past have fallen, below $1.00 per share, potentially causing shareholders who redeem their shares at such net asset values to lose money from their original investment. If the net asset value of Fund shares were to fall below $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that the Investment Manager or its affiliates would protect the Fund or redeeming shareholders against a loss of principal.
At times of (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or a few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) insufficient levels of cash in the Fund's portfolio to satisfy redemption activity, and (iii) disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in order to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. Sales of portfolio securities at such times could result in losses to the Fund and cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. Additionally, in some cases, the default of a single portfolio security could cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. In addition, the Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
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Appendix B (continued)
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Municipal Securities Risk.  Municipal securities are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for a specific project or public facility, and include obligations of the governments of the U.S. territories, commonwealths and possessions such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to the extent such obligations are exempt from state income taxes. Municipal securities may be fully or partially backed by the taxing authority of the local government, by the credit of a private issuer, by the current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or by domestic or foreign entities providing credit support, such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance, and are generally classified into general obligation bonds and special revenue obligations. General obligation bonds are backed by an issuer's taxing authority and may be vulnerable to limits on a government's power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes. They may also depend for payment on legislative appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies. Revenue obligations are payable from revenues generated by a particular project or other revenue source, and are typically subject to greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects in sectors such as education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. Municipal securities generally pay interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel, is free from U.S. federal income tax (and, in some cases, the federal alternative minimum tax). There is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will agree with this opinion or that U.S. federal income tax law will not change.
Certain of the municipalities or territories in which the Fund may invest have recently experienced significant financial difficulties. A credit rating downgrade relating to, default by, or insolvency or bankruptcy of, one or several municipal security issuers of a state, territory, commonwealth or possession in which the Fund invests could affect the market values and marketability of many or all municipal obligations of such state, territory, commonwealth or possession.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Opportunistic Investing Risk. Undervalued securities involve the risk that they may never reach their expected full market value, either because the market fails to recognize the security's intrinsic worth or the expected value was misgauged. Undervalued securities also may decline in price even though the Investment Manager believes they are already undervalued. Turnaround companies may never improve their fundamentals, may take much longer than expected to improve, or may improve much less than expected. Development stage companies could fail to develop and deplete their assets, resulting in large percentage losses.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Quantitative Model Risk. Investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended. Because the value of REITs and other real estate-related companies may fluctuate widely in response to changes in factors affecting the real estate markets, the value of an investment in the Fund may be more volatile than the value of an investment in a fund that is invested in a more diverse range of market sectors.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may need to sell portfolio securities to meet redemption requests. The Fund could experience a loss when selling portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if there is (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) a disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities or (iii) the inability of the Fund to sell portfolio securities because such securities are illiquid. In such events, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in an effort to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. The Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
Regulatory Risk. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation or performance of the Fund. For example, the SEC has proposed amendments to money market regulation, which may have adverse consequences for money market funds, including the Fund. These changes, if adopted, may affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategies, and may impact the Fund’s future operations, performance and/or yields.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
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Appendix B (continued)
Repurchase Agreements Risk. Repurchase agreements are agreements in which the seller of a security to the Fund agrees to repurchase that security from the Fund at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Repurchase agreements carry the risk that the counterparty may not fulfill its obligations under the agreement. This could cause the Fund's income and the value of your investment in the Fund to decline.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that this strategy will be successful.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the energy sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the energy sector are subject to certain risks, including legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions and increased competition. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, among others, fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, events occurring in nature and local and international politics. In addition, rising interest rates and high inflation may affect the demand for certain natural resources and, therefore, the performance of companies in the energy sector.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the health care sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the health care sector are subject to certain risks, including restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, government approval of medical products and
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
services, competitive pricing pressures, and the rising cost of medical products and services (especially for companies dependent upon a relatively limited number of products or services). Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, government regulation, obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so), product liability and other similar litigation as well as product obsolescence.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Short Positions Risk. The Fund may establish short positions which introduce more risk to the Fund than long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument or other asset) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument or other asset purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument or other asset plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument or other asset when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument or other asset, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument or other asset.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible
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Variable Portfolio Fund of Funds
Appendix B (continued)
that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. The cash flows and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. If prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor in IOs may incur substantial losses. If prepayments of principal are slower than anticipated, the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
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For More Information
The Funds are sold exclusively as underlying options of variable insurance policies and variable annuity contracts issued by affiliated insurance companies. Please refer to the Contract prospectus that describes your annuity contract or insurance policy for information about how to buy, sell and transfer your investment among shares of the Funds.
Additional Information About the Funds
Additional information about each Fund’s investments is available in the Funds’ SAI, annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Funds and their policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Funds and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Funds as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Funds (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Funds are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-21852.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6534-99 G (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

  
The Fund may offer Class 1 and Class 2 shares to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Fund.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.55% 0.55%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.30% 0.30%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.85% 1.10%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $ 87 $271 $471 $1,049
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $112 $350 $606 $1,340
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. For the fiscal period from April 30, 2013 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2013, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 449% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to maintain substantial economic exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. The Fund invests, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of commodity-linked investments, including commodity-linked futures, structured notes and/or swaps that are designed to provide exposure to the investment return of assets that trade in the commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. A substantial portion of the Fund’s net assets will also be invested in a portfolio of fixed income securities rated investment-grade or, if unrated, deemed of comparable quality, which will consist primarily of: (i) U.S. Government securities, corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and/or asset-backed securities; and/or (ii) shares of an affiliated money market fund. In addition to investing in these holdings for their income-producing potential, these holdings will be designated by the Fund, as necessary, to serve as collateral with respect to the Fund’s commodity-linked investments.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The Fund primarily expects to gain exposure to the commodities markets by investing up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized as a company under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Subsidiary). The Subsidiary’s commodity-linked investments are expected to produce leveraged exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. It is expected that the gross notional value of the Fund’s (including the Subsidiary’s) commodity-linked investments will be equivalent to at least 90% of the Fund’s net assets. Like the Fund, the Subsidiary will not invest directly in physical commodities. The Subsidiary also invests in investment-grade fixed income securities and shares of an affiliated money market fund for investment purposes or to serve as collateral for its commodity-linked investments. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary permits it to gain exposure to the commodities markets in a potentially tax-efficient manner. The Subsidiary has the same investment objective as the Fund and, like the Fund, is managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) and subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited (Threadneedle).
Derivatives, such as futures, options, structured notes and swaps, may also be utilized to produce incremental earnings, hedge existing positions, increase market exposure and/or increase investment flexibility. Actual exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may engage in derivative transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges or in the “over-the-counter” (OTC) market.
In constructing the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio, Threadneedle seeks to identify a portfolio of investment-grade fixed income securities, generally with a dollar-weighted average portfolio duration of 1 year or less.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those associated with the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary, as described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down. (References in this section to “the Fund” also include the Subsidiary, which shares the same risks as the Fund.)
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulatory Risk. The Fund does not qualify for an exemption from registration as a “commodity pool” under rules of the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA). Accordingly, the Fund is a commodity pool under the CEA and the Investment Manager is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. The Fund is subject to dual regulation by the SEC and the CFTC. Compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.
Commodity-related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include demand for the commodity, weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international, regulatory and other developments. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the value of the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than other types of investments. Commodities investments may also subject the Fund to counterparty risk and liquidity risk.
Commodity-related Tax Risk. If the Fund does not appropriately limit its commodity-related investments or if such investments are re-characterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund may be unable to qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years, which would adversely affect the value of the Fund (and the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies). In this event, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk. Investments in commodity-linked structured notes involve substantial risks, including risk of loss of interest and principal, lack of a liquid secondary market, and risk of greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and debt markets. These instruments involve additional risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps Risk.  Commodity-linked swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset (e.g., a particular commodity) or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Investing in Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-linked investments held by the Subsidiary are similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund, and thus, are subject to the same risks as the Fund (which are described in this prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. Changes in the laws of the United
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. In general, commodity investments tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of investments at $1.00 per share, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. The Fund will also be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from its investments in derivatives.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Performance Information
The Fund has not had a full calendar year of operations as of the date of this prospectus and therefore performance information is not available.
When available, the Fund intends to compare its performance to the performance of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return.
Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 (follow the prompts or ask for a representative) or by sending an e-mail to serviceinquiries@columbiamanagement.com.
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Threadneedle International Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Donora   Portfolio Manager of Threadneedle   Co-manager   April 2013
Nicholas Robin   Portfolio Manager of Threadneedle   Co-manager   April 2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to maintain substantial economic exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. The Fund invests, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of commodity-linked investments, including commodity-linked futures, structured notes and/or swaps that are designed to provide exposure to the investment return of assets that trade in the commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. A substantial portion of the Fund’s net assets will also be invested in a portfolio of fixed income securities rated investment-grade or, if unrated, deemed of comparable quality, which will consist primarily of: (i) U.S. Government securities, corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and/or asset-backed securities; and/or (ii) shares of an affiliated money market fund. In addition to investing in these holdings for their income-producing potential, these holdings will be designated by the Fund, as necessary, to serve as collateral with respect to the Fund’s commodity-linked investments.
The Fund primarily expects to gain exposure to the commodities markets by investing up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized as a company under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the Subsidiary). The Subsidiary’s commodity-linked investments are expected to produce leveraged exposure to the performance of the commodities markets. It is expected that the gross notional value of the Fund’s (including the Subsidiary’s) commodity-linked investments will be equivalent to at least 90% of the Fund’s net assets. Like the Fund, the Subsidiary will not invest directly in physical commodities. The Subsidiary also invests in investment-grade fixed income securities and shares of an affiliated money market fund for investment purposes or to serve as collateral for its commodity-linked investments. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary permits it to gain exposure to the commodities markets in a potentially tax-efficient manner. The Subsidiary has the same investment objective as the Fund and, like the Fund, is managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) and subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited (Threadneedle).
The Fund (primarily through the Subsidiary) is expected to invest significantly in commodity-linked futures contracts in furtherance of its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument, asset (e.g., commodity) or currency at a future time at a specified price. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying instrument. Depending on the terms of the particular contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date. In particular, commodity futures contracts normally specify a certain date for the delivery of the underlying physical commodity. In order to avoid the delivery process and maintain a long futures position, the Fund and the Subsidiary will typically replace futures contracts as they approach expiration by contracts that have a later expiration. This process is known as “rolling” a futures position. As a result, the Fund and the Subsidiary do not expect to engage in physical settlement of commodities futures.
The Fund and the Subsidiary typically have the right to “put” (or sell) a commodity-linked structured note to the issuer at any time, at a price that is calculated based on the price movement of the underlying variable. Commodity-linked structured notes have characteristics of both a debt security and a commodity-linked derivative. Typically, commodity-linked structured notes are issued by a bank or other financial institution or a commodity producer at a specified face value (for example $100 or $1,000). They usually pay interest at a fixed or floating rate until they mature, which is normally in 12 to 18 months. At maturity, the Fund or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives a payment that is calculated based on the price increase or decrease of an underlying commodity-related variable and may be based on a multiple of the price movement of that variable. The underlying commodity-related variable may be a physical commodity (such as heating oil, livestock, or agricultural products), a commodity futures or option contract, a commodity index (such as the S& P GSCI), or some other readily measurable variable that reflects changes in the value of particular commodities or the commodities markets. A typical commodity-linked structured note also provides that the issuer will automatically repurchase the note from the Fund or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, if the value of the note decreases to a specified level based on the price of the underlying variable.
The Fund and the Subsidiary may also utilize commodity-linked structured notes to gain exposure to commodities markets.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Fund and the Subsidiary may also invest in commodity-linked swaps. Commodity-linked swaps are two party contracts in which the parties agree to exchange the return or interest rate on one instrument for the return of a particular commodity, commodity index or commodities futures or options contract. The payment streams are calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount.
Derivatives, such as futures, options, structured notes and swaps, may also be utilized to produce incremental earnings, hedge existing positions, increase market exposure and/or increase investment flexibility. Actual exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Fund may engage in derivative transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges or in the “over-the-counter” (OTC) market.
Columbia Management serves as the investment manager to the Fund and is responsible for oversight of the Fund’s subadviser, Threadneedle, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., the parent company of the Investment Manager.
Investment Process
In constructing the Fund’s exposure to commodities markets, Threadneedle seeks to exploit temporary market inefficiencies or other events and identify investment opportunities across a broad spectrum of the commodities markets through the use of both macroeconomic assessments of commodity sectors (such as industrial metals sector, precious metals sector, energy sector and agriculture sector) and fundamental analyses of individual commodities (such as aluminum, zinc, silver, platinum, crude oil, natural gas, corn, cocoa, etc.). In analyzing conditions for investment in particular sectors and applying macroeconomic analysis, the Fund’s portfolio managers will rely on economic research, investment themes and sector weighting and asset allocation considerations. The portfolio managers’ views of individual commodities are driven by market information (i.e., relative value) and fundamental inputs (e.g., short-term shifts in supply and demand, weather conditions for particular agricultural commodities), technical inputs (e.g., volatility, market trends), seasonal inputs (e.g., seasonal period performance), and structural and liquidity inputs (e.g., heavy shorting in market against a particular commodity). The portfolio managers will then implement their approach by constructing a portfolio that is generally allocated among a variety of commodity sectors. The portfolio managers will consider which type of commodity-linked investment is best suited to provide the desired exposure to the commodities markets at a given point in time and the extent to which investments should be made directly or indirectly through the Subsidiary.
In constructing the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio, Threadneedle seeks to identify a portfolio of investment-grade fixed income securities, generally with a dollar-weighted average portfolio duration of 1 year or less. Duration measures the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates. The longer the duration of a bond, the longer it will take to repay the principal and interest obligations and the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. For example, a three-year duration means a bond is expected to decrease in value by 3% if interest rates rise 1% and increase in value by 3% if interest rates fall 1%. In pursuing the Fund’s investment objective, Threadneedle has considerable flexibility in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day basis.
Threadneedle actively manages the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s exposure to commodities markets and will rebalance commodity sector positions and weightings when there are perceived opportunities in other sectors or in other individual commodities.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those associated with the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary, as described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down. (References in this section to “the Fund” also include the Subsidiary, which shares the same risks as the Fund.)
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulatory Risk. The Fund does not qualify for an exemption from registration as a “commodity pool” under rules of the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA). Accordingly, the Fund is a commodity pool under the CEA and the Investment Manager is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. The Fund is subject to dual regulation by the SEC and the CFTC. Compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.
Commodity-related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include demand for the commodity, weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international, regulatory and other developments. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which may, in turn, reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the value of the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than other types of investments. No, or a limited, active trading market may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. In addition, adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities investments. Certain types of commodities instruments (such as commodity-linked swaps and commodity-linked structured notes) are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
Commodity-related Tax Risk. As a regulated investment company, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as “qualifying income” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund generally intends to gain exposure to the commodities markets through investments that give rise to qualifying income, by investing directly in commodity-linked instruments that the Fund believes give rise to qualifying income, or indirectly through its investments in the Subsidiary, which, in turn, would invest in commodities or commodity-linked instruments. The Fund intends to operate in such a manner that the 90% gross income requirement in respect of the Fund is satisfied. The Fund must also meet certain asset diversification requirements in order to qualify as a regulated investment company, including investing no more than 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary as of the end of each quarter of its taxable year. If the Fund does not appropriately limit its commodity-linked investments or if such investments are re-characterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund may be unable to qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years, which would adversely affect the value of the Fund and the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies. In this event, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include:
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correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk. The use of commodity-linked structured notes is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund’s investments in commodity-linked structured notes involve substantial risks, including risk of loss of interest and principal, lack of a secondary (i.e. liquid) market, and risk of greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and debt markets.
If payment of interest on a commodity-linked structured note is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might receive lower interest payments (or not receive any of the interest due) on its investments if there is a loss of value of the underlying investment. Further, to the extent that the amount of principal to be repaid upon maturity is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive a portion (or any) of the principal at maturity of the investment or upon earlier exchange. At any time, the risk of loss associated with a particular structured note in the Fund’s portfolio may be significantly higher than the value of the note.
A liquid secondary market may not exist for the commodity-linked structured notes held in the Fund’s portfolio, which may make it difficult for the notes to be sold at a price acceptable to the portfolio managers or to accurately value them. Investment in commodity-linked structured notes also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
The value of the commodity-linked structured notes may fluctuate significantly because the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves volatile. Additionally, the particular terms of a commodity-linked structured note may create economic leverage by requiring payment by the issuer of an amount that is a multiple of the price increase or decrease of the underlying commodity, commodity index, or other economic variable. Economic leverage will increase the volatility of the value of these commodity-linked notes as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity, commodity index or other economic variable.
Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps Risk. The use of commodity-linked swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Commodity-linked swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide
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the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Investing in Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk. By investing in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (Subsidiary), the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The Subsidiary is subject to the same Principal Risks that the Fund is subject to (which are described in this prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and, except as otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by Columbia Management, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. In managing the Subsidiary’s investment portfolio, Columbia Management will manage the Subsidiary’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law were changed and the Subsidiary was required to pay Cayman Island taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
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Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. In general, commodity investments tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities. In addition, commodity prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of investments at $1.00 per share, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. To the extent these fees and expenses, along with the fees and expenses of any other funds in which the Fund may invest, are expected to equal or exceed 0.01% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, they will be reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses set forth in the table under “Fees and Expenses of the Fund.” By investing in a money market fund, the Fund will be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund in direct proportion to such investment. The money market fund may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund, through its investment in the money market fund, may not achieve its investment objective. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from the Fund’s investments in derivatives.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under
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such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the SAI. The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways,
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especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
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The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
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Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
Expense Reimbursement Arrangements
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund
Class 1 1.00%
Class 2 1.25%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Obtaining Recent Net Asset Value Per Share
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day. For additional information on how the Fund calculates its NAV, see About Fund Shares and Transactions Share Price Determination below.
You may obtain the current NAV of Fund shares at no cost by calling 800.345.6611 (follow the prompts or ask for a representative) or by sending an e-mail to serviceinquiries@columbiamanagement.com.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Investment Manager is responsible for the investment management of the Fund, but has delegated certain of its duties, including day-to-day portfolio management of all or a portion of the Fund’s assets to one or more investment subadvisers that determine what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executes these portfolio transactions.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.55% of average daily net assets of the Fund. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
The Investment Manager has, with the approval of the Board, engaged an investment subadviser(s) to make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. The Investment Manager retains ultimate responsibility (subject to Board oversight) for overseeing any subadviser it engages and for evaluating the Fund’s needs and the subadvisers’ skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Based on its evaluations, the Investment Manager may at times recommend to the Board that the Fund change, add or terminate one or more subadvisers; continue to retain a subadviser even though the subadviser’s ownership or corporate structure has changed; or materially change a subadvisory agreement with a subadviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment subadvisory agreement with Threadneedle is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Subadviser
Threadneedle, which has served as Subadviser to the Fund and the Subsidiary since April 2013, is located at 60 St. Mary Axe, London EC3A 8JQ, England. Threadneedle is an affiliate of the Investment Manager, and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. Threadneedle was founded in 1994 and has experience managing investment strategies covering equities, fixed income, real estate, asset allocation and alternatives.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s and the Subsidiary's investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
Subadviser: Threadneedle International Limited
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
David Donora   Portfolio Manager of Threadneedle   Co-manager   April 2013
Nicholas Robin   Portfolio Manager of Threadneedle   Co-manager   April 2013
Mr. Donora joined Threadneedle in 2008 as a fund manager specializing in commodities. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Donora worked at Marine Midland Bank, UBS AG, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Refco Overseas Ltd. Mr. Donora began his investment career in 1982 and earned a B.A. in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
Mr. Robin joined Threadneedle in 2010 as a fund manager specializing in commodities. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mr. Robin worked at Barep Asset Management (Société Générale Group) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Mr. Robin began his investment career in 2001 and earned a BSc in Government and Economics and MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners, Qualified Plan participants and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
About the Fund’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
The Subsidiary is an exempted company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Fund will invest in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to “regulated investment companies.” The Fund must invest no more than 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary as of the end of each quarter of its taxable year.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Subsidiary is overseen by its own board of directors. However, the Fund’s Board maintains oversight responsibility for investment activities of the Subsidiary generally as if the Subsidiary’s investments were held directly by the Fund. Columbia Management is responsible for the Subsidiary’s day-to-day business pursuant to a separate investment management services agreement between the Subsidiary and Columbia Management, and Threadneedle selects the Subsidiary’s investments pursuant to an Addendum to the Subadvisory Agreement with Columbia Management. Under these agreements, Columbia Management and Threadneedle provide the Subsidiary with the same type of management and subadvisory services, under the same terms, as are provided to the Fund. The Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts for the provision of administrative and custody services with the same service providers who provide these services to the Fund. The Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the advisory, administrative and custody services that it receives. The Fund expects that the expenses borne by the Subsidiary will not be material in relation to the value of the Fund’s assets.
In managing the Subsidiary’s investment portfolio, and in adhering to the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures, Columbia Management will treat the assets of the Subsidiary generally as if the assets were held directly by the Fund. Columbia Management will also treat the assets of the Subsidiary generally as if the assets were held directly by the Fund with respect to its adherence to the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions.
Please refer to the SAI for additional information about the organization and management of the Subsidiary.
Related Performance Information
The Fund commenced investment operations on April 30, 2013; therefore, it has a limited performance record of its own.
Pursuant to new regulations issued by the CFTC, the Fund is treated as a commodity pool due to the manner in which it invests and trades in instruments that are subject to the jurisdiction of the CFTC. In addition, under these regulations, commodity pools (such as the Fund) with less than three years of operating history are required to disclose the performance of all accounts and pools that are managed by the same investment manager (known as the commodity pool operator) and that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those of the offered pool. Accordingly, the table below shows performance information of another open-end investment company (the Other Fund) managed by the Investment Manager with substantially similar investment objectives, principal investment strategies and investment policies as the Fund. The performance information for the Other Fund, which commenced investment operations on July 28, 2011, is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Investment Manager in managing a portfolio that is substantially similar to the Fund. Although the Fund is providing this information to comply with CFTC regulations applicable to the Fund and the Investment Manager, investors should not rely on the Other Fund’s performance information in making a decision as to whether to invest in the Fund.
Performance shown below for the Other Fund is based upon the net asset value of Class W shares and assumes reinvestment of distributions. The table below also compares the Other Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance. The performance information shown below does not represent the performance of the Fund itself, and it should not be interpreted as an indication or guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Past performance is no indication of future results.
    
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2013
  1 Year Life of Fund
Other Fund annualized returns before taxes -11.22% -7.71%
Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) -9.52% -10.32%
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 1 and Class 2 shares.
    
  Class 1 Shares Class 2 Shares
Eligible Investors Shares of the Fund are available only to separate accounts of participating insurance companies as underlying investments for variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) or other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor.
Investment Limits none none
Conversion Features none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsors or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. Your product may not offer every share class. The Fund encourages you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and for more information about the share classes offered by the Fund and available under your product. Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts and Qualified Plan sponsors.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners or participants in a Qualified Plan. When you sell your shares through your Contract or Qualified Plan, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract, participant in a Qualified Plan or qualified institutional investor who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or Qualified Plan or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts or the Qualified Plan.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase only through Contracts offered by participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners, and the interests of Qualified Plan participants, if any, may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor, before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract or Qualified Plan. Any charges that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans that may own shares directly, are described in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract or Qualified Plan. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable, for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders — The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or
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Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices — The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer
26 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Mutual funds make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you'll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.
The Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, the Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:
    
Declaration and Distribution Schedule
Declarations Annually
Distributions Annually
The Fund may, however, declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently.
Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.
The Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions to be paid in cash.
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts.
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
Prospectus 2014 29

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Consolidated Financial Highlights
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
    
Class 1 Year Ended
December 31,
2013 (a)
Per share data  
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.86
Income from investment operations:  
Net investment loss (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized loss (0.49)
Total from investment operations (0.54)
Net asset value, end of period $9.32
Total return (5.48%)
Ratios to average net assets (b)  
Total gross expenses 0.85% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.85% (c)
Net investment loss (0.77%) (c)
Supplemental data  
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $120,651
Portfolio turnover 449%
  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 30, 2013 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2013.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
    
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Commodity Strategy Fund
Consolidated Financial Highlights (continued)
Class 2 Year Ended
December 31,
2013 (a)
Per share data  
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.86
Income from investment operations:  
Net investment loss (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized loss (0.48)
Total from investment operations (0.54)
Net asset value, end of period $9.32
Total return (5.48%)
Ratios to average net assets (b)  
Total gross expenses 1.09% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 1.09% (c)
Net investment loss (1.02%) (c)
Supplemental data  
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $664
Portfolio turnover 449%
  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 30, 2013 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2013.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 31

Table of Contents
For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies and participants in Qualified Plans. Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6628-99 F (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund

  
This Fund is closed to new investors.
Please remember that you may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by owning RiverSource Variable Annuity Fund A or RiverSource Variable Annuity Fund B contract (the Contract) and allocating your purchase payments to the variable account that invests in the Fund. There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Fund.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Table of Contents

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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management fees 0.40%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.04%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.44%
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (a) (0.04%)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements 0.40%
(a) Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses (excluding transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) indefinitely. Under this agreement, the Fund’s net operating expenses, subject to applicable exclusions, will not exceed the annual rate of 0.40%.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
The example includes contractual commitments to waive fees and reimburse expenses as indicated in the previous table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund $41 $128 $224 $505
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Although the Fund is managed based primarily on quantitative methods, a qualitative review of the quantitative output is conducted by the portfolio managers. Therefore, the Fund’s performance will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make active, qualitative decisions, including allocation decisions that seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Quantitative Model Risk. Investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611.
    
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 3rd Quarter 2009 16.36%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -23.73%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Inception Date 1 Year 5 Years Life of Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Core Equity Fund 09/10/2004 34.48% 19.55% 7.41%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   32.39% 17.94% 7.72%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Condon, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Quantitative Strategies   Co-manager   2010
Oliver Buckley   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may not buy (nor will you own) shares of the Fund directly. You invest by buying an annuity contract and allocating your purchase payments to the variable account that invests in the Fund. Please see your annuity prospectus for more information.
Tax Information
The Fund, a so-called disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, does not expect to make regular distributions to shareholders (variable accounts). Federal income taxation of the variable account, life insurance company and annuity contract is discussed in your annuity contract prospectus.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The Fund is sold exclusively as an underlying investment option of variable annuity contracts (products) offered by RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life). RiverSource Life may receive payments from affiliates for including the Fund as an investment option in the products. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing RiverSource Life’s decision regarding which funds to include in a product. Employees of RiverSource Life and their affiliates, including affiliated broker-dealers, may be separately incented to include the Fund in the product or, if included, recommend the sale of Fund shares, as employee compensation (directly or indirectly) and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. See the product prospectus for more information regarding these payments and allocations.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) considers a variety of factors in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio which may include, among others, the following:
Valuation factors, such as earnings and cash flow relative to market values;
Catalyst factors, such as relative stock price performance, business momentum, and short interest measures; and
Quality factors, such as quality of earnings and financial strength.
The Investment Manager may sell a security when it believes other stocks in the Index or other investments are more attractive, if the security is believed to be overvalued relative to other potential investments, when the company no longer meets the Investment Manager’s performance expectation, when the security is removed from the Index, or for other reasons.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Although the Fund is managed based primarily on quantitative methods, a qualitative review of the quantitative output is conducted by the portfolio managers. Therefore, the Fund’s performance will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make active, qualitative decisions, including allocation decisions that seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Quantitative Model Risk. The Fund may use quantitative methods to select investments. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market returns, among others. Any errors or imperfections in the Fund portfolio manager’s quantitative analyses or models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the portfolio manager’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The fee arrangements, as of the date of this prospectus, are reflected in the expense ratio and are not adjusted to reflect the Fund’s average net assets as of the date of this prospectus or a later date, as the Fund’s asset level will fluctuate. In general, the Fund’s expense ratio will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratio may be higher than the expense ratio presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected to provide a limit to the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratio that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (a) investment management fees, and (b) other expenses.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below) indefinitely, so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rate of:
    
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
  0.40%
Under the agreement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is specifically approved by the Board. This agreement may be modified or amended only with approval from all parties.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates. At present, the Investment Manager has not engaged any investment subadviser for the Fund.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.40% of average daily net assets of the Fund. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Fund's investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Brian Condon, CFA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Quantitative Strategies   Co-manager   2010
Oliver Buckley   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2011
Mr. Condon joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he was a portfolio manager since 1999. Mr. Condon began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.A. from Bryant University and an M.S. in finance from Bentley University.
Mr. Buckley joined the Investment Manager in July 2011. From 2000 to 2010, Mr. Buckley was Head of Active Equity for Mellon Capital Management. He began his investment career in 1989 and earned a B.S. and M.S. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from University of California, Berkeley.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Class
Share Class Features
    
Eligible Investors The Fund is available exclusively as an underlying investment option of variable annuity contracts offered by RiverSource Life Insurance Company
Investment Limits none  
Conversion Features none  
Front-End Sales Charges none  
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none  
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none  
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
The Fund calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets) – (Liabilities)
Number of outstanding shares
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners. When you sell your shares through your Contract, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and may also be available to other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Additional Discussion of Potential Conflicts of Interest Relating to Funds Used Exclusively by Affiliated Insurance Companies
The Fund is sold exclusively as underlying investment options of the Contracts offered by RiverSource Life Insurance Company (the Company). The Investment Manager and its affiliates make or support payments out of their own resources to the Company as a result of the Company including the Fund as an investment option in the Contracts. These allocations may be significant. In addition, employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of the Company, may be separately incented to include the Fund in the Contracts, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. These Contracts may also include unaffiliated mutual funds as investment options, and the Company receives payments from the sponsors of these unaffiliated mutual funds as a result of including these funds in the products. The amount of payment from sponsors of unaffiliated funds or allocation from the Investment Manager and its affiliates varies, and may be significant. The amount of the payment or allocation the Company receives from a Fund may create an incentive for the Company and may influence their decision regarding which funds to include in a Contract. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers, may be separately incented to recommend or sell shares of the Fund, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investments in the Fund increase. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including Columbia Management, and the Distributor, and the products they offer, including the Fund. These arrangements are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing payments,” and are in addition to any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees or other amounts paid by the Fund for account maintenance, sub-accounting or recordkeeping services provided directly by the Company. See About Fund Shares and Transactions - Selling Agent Compensation for more information generally about selling agent compensation and the Contract prospectus for more information regarding these payments and allocations relating to your Contract.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company , before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract. Any charges that apply to your Contract, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies that may own shares directly, are described in your Contract prospectus.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Prospectus 2014 19

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Because the Fund expects to be treated as a so-called disregarded entity for tax purposes, it is not required to and does not expect to make regular distributions to its shareholders (other than in redemption of Fund shares), but may do so in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (or its delegates).
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund expects to be treated as a so-called disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A disregarded entity itself is not subject to U.S. federal income tax nor to any annual tax return filing requirements.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes allocations or distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts, or if the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a so-called disregarded entity
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
20 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
  2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $9.57 $8.19 $7.65 $6.55 $5.27
Income from investment operations          
Net investment income (loss) 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.17 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain 3.09 1.20 0.38 0.93 1.16
Total from investment operations 3.30 1.38 0.54 1.10 1.28
Net asset value, end of period $12.87 $9.57 $8.19 $7.65 $6.55
Total return 34.48% 16.85% 7.06% 16.76% 24.40%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 0.44% 0.46% 0.46% 0.45% 0.44%
Total net expenses (b) 0.40% 0.40% 0.40% 0.40% 0.40%
Net investment income 1.84% 1.98% 2.02% 2.44% 2.25%
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $213,918 $180,866 $175,225 $186,322 $186,836
Portfolio turnover 68% 79% 52% 109% 76%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 21

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For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies. Please refer to your Contract prospectus for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6347-99 M (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

  
The Fund may offer Class 1 and Class 2 shares to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Fund.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through current income and, secondarily, through capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.53% 0.53%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.16% 0.16%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.69% 0.94%
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $70 $221 $384 $ 859
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $96 $300 $520 $1,155
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in fixed income securities of emerging markets issuers. For these purposes, emerging market countries are generally those either defined by World Bank-defined per capita income brackets or determined to be an emerging market based on the Fund investment team’s qualitative judgments about a country’s level of economic and institutional development, among other factors. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in fixed income securities of issuers that are located in emerging markets countries, or that earn 50% or more of their total revenues from goods or services produced in emerging markets countries or from sales made in emerging markets countries. Fixed income securities may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or the local currency of the issuer. While the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign
Prospectus 2014 3

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single issuer. The Fund can invest in emerging market sovereign debt instruments of any credit quality including those rated investment grade and below investment grade or considered to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). Although the emerging markets sovereign debt universe largely consists of investment grade instruments, a significant portion of that universe is rated in these lower rating categories. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than equity securities. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-345-6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart



Best 4th Quarter 2013 0.24%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -7.07%
6 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 1 4/30/2012 -7.54% 1.88%
Class 2 4/30/2012 -7.65% 1.72%
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index-Global (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -6.58% 2.24%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jim Carlen, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Henry Stipp, PhD   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through current income and, secondarily, through capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice.
Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in fixed income securities of emerging markets issuers. For these purposes, emerging market countries are generally those either defined by World Bank-defined per capita income brackets or determined to be an emerging market based on the Fund investment team’s qualitative judgments about a country’s level of economic and institutional development, among other factors. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in fixed income securities of issuers that are located in emerging markets countries, or that earn 50% or more of their total revenues from goods or services produced in emerging markets countries or from sales made in emerging markets countries. Fixed income securities may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or the local currency of the issuer. While the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single issuer. The Fund can invest in emerging market sovereign debt instruments of any credit quality including those rated investment grade and below investment grade or considered to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). Although the emerging markets sovereign debt universe largely consists of investment grade instruments, a significant portion of that universe is rated in these lower rating categories. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) chooses investments by:
Analyzing the creditworthiness of emerging market countries;
Seeking to evaluate the best relative value opportunities among emerging market countries, by comparing sovereign debt spreads to fundamental creditworthiness and comparing the recent sovereign debt spread relationships among countries to historic relationships; and
Seeking to identify emerging markets bonds that can take advantage of attractive local interest rates and provide exposure to undervalued currencies.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors, whether in its view:
The security is overvalued;
The security has new credit risks; or
The security continues to meet the standards described above.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
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Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of
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economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector it operates in, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Under certain market conditions debt securities may have greater price volatility than
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equity securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by the market’s perception of the issuer (or its industry or sector), changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies, is not filed with the SEC and is therefore not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debtholders. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
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Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiamanagement.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund
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shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information on the Fund's website (columbiamanagement.com) only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the Fund's website may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
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Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Class 1 0.72%
Class 2 0.97%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates. At present, the Investment Manager has not engaged any investment subadviser for the Fund.
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From time to time the Investment Manager may engage its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world to provide a variety of services such as, investment research, investment monitoring, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. The Investment Manager expects to engage certain of its Threadneedle Investments affiliates to provide such services. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Investment Manager will bear any and all costs of such agreements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise Financial and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the United States.
Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, may provide such services to the Fund on behalf of the Investment Manager.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.53% of average daily net assets of the Fund. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Fund's investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Jim Carlen, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Henry Stipp, PhD   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2013
Mr. Carlen joined the Investment Manager in 1996. Mr. Carlen began his investment career in 1996 and earned an M.S. from Georgetown University.
Dr. Stipp joined Threadneedle in 2001 as a strategist and economist for emerging market debt. Dr. Stipp began his investment career in 1991 and earned a BSc in economics from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, a MSc in macroeconomic policy in emerging markets from the DPPC-UK and a PhD in economics from the University of London.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners, Qualified Plan participants and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 1 and Class 2 shares.
    
  Class 1 Shares Class 2 Shares
Eligible Investors Shares of the Fund are available only to separate accounts of participating insurance companies as underlying investments for variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) or other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor.
Investment Limits none none
Conversion Features none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsors or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. Your product may not offer every share class. The Fund encourages you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and for more information about the share classes offered by the Fund and available under your product. Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts and Qualified Plan sponsors.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners or participants in a Qualified Plan. When you sell your shares through your Contract or Qualified Plan, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract, participant in a Qualified Plan or qualified institutional investor who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or Qualified Plan or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts or the Qualified Plan.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase only through Contracts offered by participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners, and the interests of Qualified Plan participants, if any, may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor, before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract or Qualified Plan. Any charges that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans that may own shares directly, are described in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract or Qualified Plan. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable, for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Mutual funds make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you'll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.
The Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, the Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:
    
Declaration and Distribution Schedule
Declarations Quarterly
Distributions Quarterly
The Fund may, however, declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently.
Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.
The Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions to be paid in cash.
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts.
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 (a)
Per share data    
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.88 $10.00
Income from investment operations:    
Net investment income 0.56 0.35
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.37) 0.80
Total from investment operations (0.81) 1.15
Less distributions to shareholders:    
Net investment income (0.60) (0.27)
Net realized gains (0.06)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.66) (0.27)
Net asset value, end of period $9.41 $10.88
Total return (7.54%) 11.58%
Ratios to average net assets (b)    
Total gross expenses 0.69% 0.70% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.69% 0.70% (c)
Net investment income 5.50% 5.09% (c)
Supplemental data    
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $287,061 $416,903
Portfolio turnover 21% 21%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 30, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 (a)
Per share data    
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.88 $10.00
Income from investment operations:    
Net investment income 0.54 0.32
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.36) 0.81
Total from investment operations (0.82) 1.13
Less distributions to shareholders:    
Net investment income (0.57) (0.25)
Net realized gains (0.06)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.63) (0.25)
Net asset value, end of period $9.43 $10.88
Total return (7.65%) 11.42%
Ratios to average net assets (b)    
Total gross expenses 0.95% 0.95% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.95% 0.95% (c)
Net investment income 5.68% 4.64% (c)
Supplemental data    
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $4,249 $3
Portfolio turnover 21% 21%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 30, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies and participants in Qualified Plans. Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6536-99 D (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  
The Fund may offer Class 2 shares to separate accounts funding certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated life insurance companies and other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor), as set forth herein. There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Fund.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund (the Fund) pursues total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract, which are disclosed in your Contract prospectus. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 2
Management fees 0.19%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.25%
Other expenses 0.06%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 0.54%
Total annual Fund operating expenses (a) 1.04%
(a) “Total annual Fund operating expenses” include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses the Fund incurs indirectly through its investments in other investment companies) and may be higher than “Net Expenses” shown in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus because “Net Expenses” do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Since the waivers and/or reimbursements shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above expire as indicated in the preceding table, they are only reflected in the 1 year example and the first year of the other examples. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $106 $331 $574 $1,271
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund, underlying funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when they buy and sell securities (or “turn over” their portfolios). The Fund will indirectly bear the expenses associated with portfolio turnover of the underlying funds and ETFs. A high portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 125% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund pursues its investment objective by allocating its assets across equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes while targeting a particular level of effective equity market exposure (described below) that varies based on volatility in the equity market. On March 31, 2014, the Fund’s actual effective equity market exposure was approximately 61.64% of its net assets. The Fund invests in a mix of affiliated mutual funds (Underlying Funds) and, in seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility, the Fund employs a tactical allocation strategy utilizing:
derivative transactions (such as futures, swaps, forward rate agreements, options and credit default swap indexes);
direct investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs); and
direct investments in fixed-income or debt securities (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), mortgage- and asset-backed securities, international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures and mortgage dollar rolls).
Collectively, these assets are referred to as the Tactical Assets.
The Fund’s “effective equity market exposure” (or EEME) includes exposure to equity markets through the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds and Tactical Assets, adjusted to reflect the degree to which the Fund’s holdings are expected to move in tandem with equity markets (beta) based solely on the views of the Fund’s investment manager. Although the Fund’s actual EEME at March 31, 2014 was approximately 61.64% of its net assets, the Fund’s targeted EEME may, under normal circumstances, range from 0 to 70% of its net assets. Within this range, the Fund’s targeted and actual EEME is subject to change, including on a daily basis.
The Fund invests in Underlying Funds focused on equity investments (Equity Underlying Funds) and Underlying Funds focused on fixed-income/debt investments (Fixed-Income Underlying Funds) to gain exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes, respectively. If the Fund invests, for example, 50% of its net assets in Equity Underlying Funds (and has no EEME through its Tactical Assets), the Fund will have 50% of its net assets exposed to the equity market and may have an EEME of 50% of its net assets. Using the same example, the Fund could employ its Tactical Assets to increase the Fund’s EEME to a maximum of 70% while maintaining a 50% allocation to Equity Underlying Funds.
As discussed in the above example, the Tactical Assets are primarily utilized to adjust (increase or reduce) the Fund’s exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes and various segments within these asset classes (i.e., the Tactical Assets are used to adjust the Fund’s EEME). Derivatives instruments may also be used to facilitate the Fund’s management of cash inflows/outflows. At times (e.g., when there are significant cash inflows or anticipated inflows), such additional derivatives use could cause the Fund’s assets to be invested outside the ranges described below for Fund investments in Tactical Assets (and, in turn, the Underlying Funds).
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
In general, when the Fund’s investment manager, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) determines that equity market volatility is relatively low, it may increase the Fund’s EEME and decrease the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure. Conversely, if it determines that volatility in the equity market is relatively high, it may reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) the Fund’s EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure.
Investment Process
Columbia Management uses the following two-part investment process that, together, pursues total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility:
Selects and determines allocations to the Underlying Funds (referred to as the Strategic Allocation); and
Invests in and determines allocations to the Tactical Assets to modify desired asset class exposures (referred to as the Tactical Allocation).
Strategic Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 40% to 90% of its net assets in Underlying Funds managed by Columbia Management, including those for which Columbia Management provides day-to-day portfolio management and those for which day-to-day portfolio management is provided by investment subadvisers hired by Columbia Management. Of the assets allocated to the Underlying Funds, the Fund may invest up to 100% of those assets in Equity Underlying Funds or Fixed-Income Underlying Funds (or some combination of the two).
The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds across various sectors, asset classes within the equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes, strategies and markets, including Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities of different investment styles (e.g., growth, value and core/blend), market capitalizations (e.g., large, mid and small cap) and geographic focus (e.g., domestic and international, including emerging markets), as well as those that invest in real estate securities and fixed-income or debt securities, including investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and asset-backed securities and international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures.
Underlying Fund selections and allocations are reviewed periodically by Columbia Management. Changes to Underlying Fund selections and allocations may be driven by various factors, including the risks and potential benefits of investing in a particular Underlying Fund as a means of achieving total return. During times of relatively high equity market volatility as determined by Columbia Management, Columbia Management may reduce or eliminate entirely the Fund’s allocation to Equity Underlying Funds and may alter Underlying Fund selections and allocations with more frequency in seeking to achieve desired levels of EEME.
Columbia Management also considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, with respect to the performance of the Underlying Funds, the types of investment categories represented by the Underlying Funds, and the consideration of additional asset classes, or segments within these classes represented by the Underlying Funds. Columbia Management retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Tactical Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 10% to 60% of its net assets in or employs such percentage of its net assets in the Tactical Allocation strategy, which include derivative transactions (such as futures, swaps, forward rate agreements, options and credit default swaps on baskets of securities (more commonly referred to as credit default swap indexes)), as well as direct investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and fixed-income or debt securities (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures and mortgage dollar rolls).
Through investments in Tactical Assets, Columbia Management seeks to adjust the Fund’s exposures to equity and fixed-income/ debt markets and to segments within those markets in response to its assessment of the relative risks and potential returns of these markets and segments. As with the Underlying Funds, the Fund may, through its tactical allocation strategy, reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) its EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure. Conversely, the Fund may also increase its EEME by employing the Tactical Assets to adjust upward the volatility level in the Fund’s portfolio closer to desired levels.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The Fund also seeks to reduce equity market volatility in the portfolio by purchasing or writing call and put options on liquid equity indices to protect against periods of decline in equity markets.
The Investment Manager believes that the use of the Tactical Assets, and derivative transactions and ETFs in particular, may provide more efficient and economical exposure to asset classes and segments than investments in or withdrawals from the Underlying Funds. As a result, Columbia Management expects to use derivatives and ETFs as primary tools for adjusting the Fund’s EEME.
The Fund may hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments or other high quality, short-term investments, including shares of affiliated money market funds, to cover obligations with respect to, or that may result from, the Fund’s derivative transactions. The Fund’s use of certain derivatives may create significant leveraged exposure to the equity and debt markets. Leverage occurs when the investments in derivatives create greater economic exposure than the amount invested. This means that the Fund could lose more than originally invested in the derivative.
The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade securities in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its principal strategies.
Underlying Funds
Appendix A includes the list of the Underlying Funds available to the Fund within each asset class (equity, fixed-income and cash/cash equivalents (money market funds)), as well as a description of the Underlying Funds’ investment objectives and strategies. A description of the principal risks associated with the Underlying Funds is included in Appendix B. Columbia Management may add new Underlying Funds for investment or change Underlying Funds without the approval of shareholders.
Certain Underlying Funds, due to their characteristics, may fit into more than one category, and may be used by the Investment Manager to provide exposure to more than one of these categories. The prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the Underlying Funds include more detailed information about these Underlying Funds and are available free of charge by calling 800.345.6611.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, managers, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Alternative Strategies Investment Risk. An investment in alternative investment strategies (Alternative Strategies), whether through direct investment or through an underlying fund(s), involves risks, which may be significant. Alternative Strategies may include strategies, instruments or other assets, such as derivatives, that seek investment returns uncorrelated with the broad equity and fixed income/debt markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets (such as commodity markets), including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. Alternative Strategies may fail to achieve their desired performance, market or other exposure, or their returns (or lack thereof) may be more correlated with the broad equity and/or fixed income/debt markets than was anticipated, and the fund may lose money.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swap Indexes Risk. A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make one or more payments to the second party, while the second party assumes the risk of certain defaults, generally a failure to pay on a referenced debt obligation or the bankruptcy of the obligation’s issuer. As such, a CDS generally enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event. A credit default index (CDX) is an index of CDS. Credit default swap indexes (CDSX) are swap agreements that are intended to track the performance of a CDX. CDSX allow an investor, such as the Fund, to manage credit risk or to take a position on a basket of debt obligations more efficiently than transacting in single name CDS. CDSX are subject to the risk that the Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If the counterparty under a CDSX defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays. Also, the Fund’s return from investment in CDSX may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in CDSX could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of CDSX.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. These transactions involve risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and interest rate risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. ETFs are subject to, among other risks, tracking risk and passive and, in some cases, active investment risk. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses incurred through ownership of the ETF.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The Fund is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. The Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Volatility and Volatility Management Risk. Although the Fund seeks to manage equity market volatility within its portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful. Despite the Fund’s name, the Fund’s portfolio may experience more than its targeted level of volatility, subjecting the Fund to market risk. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Funds’ portfolios may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Investment Manager’s determinations/expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility within the portfolio. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. Additionally, because the Fund seeks to target a particular level of effective equity market exposure (EEME), as stated above under “Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be curbed. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss (as reflected in a smaller target level of EEME), the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets. Additionally, to the extent that the Fund maximizes its EEME in low volatility markets, if the equity markets should decline in such low volatility markets, the Fund may experience greater loss than if it had not maximized its EEME.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
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Summary of the Fund (continued)
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 4th Quarter 2013 4.82%
Worst

2nd Quarter 2013 -0.19%
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year Life of Fund
Class 2 04/19/2012 14.31% 9.89%
Blended Index (50% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 26% S&P 500 Index, 15% MSCI EAFE Index (Net) and 9% Russell 2000 Index) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   13.33% 10.80%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)   -2.02% 0.48%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Todd White   Managing Director and Head of Alternative and Absolute Return Investments   Lead manager   2012
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Co-manager   2013
Kent Peterson, Ph.D.   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Melda Mergen, CFA, CAIA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Oversight   Co-manager   2012
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2012
Brian Virginia   Portfolio Manager and Vice President, Senior Business Manager, Alternative and Absolute Return Investments   Co-manager   May 2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund sells its shares at net asset value directly to variable annuity separate accounts of RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, RiverSource Life) when the variable annuity contract holder has elected a guaranteed benefit rider that requires investment in the Fund or other Portfolio Stabilizer fund (the Rider). Effective June 2014, or such other date determined by the Distributor, the Fund is available to variable annuity contracts with and without the Rider and to variable life insurance policies (Contracts). If you are a Contract holder, please refer to your Contract prospectus for more information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
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Summary of the Fund (continued)
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders which are generally the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts or certain other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund (the Fund) pursues total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund pursues its investment objective by allocating its assets across equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes while targeting a particular level of effective equity market exposure (described below) that varies based on volatility in the equity market. On March 31, 2014, the Fund’s actual effective equity market exposure was approximately 61.64% of its net assets. The Fund invests in a mix of affiliated mutual funds (Underlying Funds) and, in seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility, the Fund employs a tactical allocation strategy utilizing:
derivative transactions (such as futures, swaps, forward rate agreements, options and credit default swap indexes);
direct investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs); and
direct investments in fixed-income or debt securities (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), mortgage- and asset-backed securities, international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures and mortgage dollar rolls).
Collectively, these assets are referred to as the Tactical Assets.
The Fund’s “effective equity market exposure” (or EEME) includes exposure to equity markets through the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds and Tactical Assets, adjusted to reflect the degree to which the Fund’s holdings are expected to move in tandem with equity markets (beta) based solely on the views of the Fund’s investment manager. Although the Fund’s actual EEME at March 31, 2014 was approximately 61.64% of its net assets, the Fund’s targeted EEME may, under normal circumstances, range from 0 to 70% of its net assets. Within this range, the Fund’s targeted and actual EEME is subject to change, including on a daily basis.
The Fund invests in Underlying Funds focused on equity investments (Equity Underlying Funds) and Underlying Funds focused on fixed-income/debt investments (Fixed-Income Underlying Funds) to gain exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes, respectively. If the Fund invests, for example, 50% of its net assets in Equity Underlying Funds (and has no EEME through its Tactical Assets), the Fund will have 50% of its net assets exposed to the equity market and may have an EEME of 50% of its net assets. Using the same example, the Fund could employ its Tactical Assets to increase the Fund’s EEME to a maximum of 70% while maintaining a 50% allocation to Equity Underlying Funds.
As discussed in the above example, the Tactical Assets are primarily utilized to adjust (increase or reduce) the Fund’s exposure to equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes and various segments within these asset classes (i.e., the Tactical Assets are used to adjust the Fund’s EEME). Derivatives instruments may also be used to facilitate the Fund’s management of cash inflows/outflows. At times (e.g., when there are significant cash inflows or anticipated inflows), such additional derivatives use could cause the Fund’s assets to be invested outside the ranges described below for Fund investments in Tactical Assets (and, in turn, the Underlying Funds).
In general, when the Fund’s investment manager, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management or the Investment Manager) determines that equity market volatility is relatively low, it may increase the Fund’s EEME and decrease the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure. Conversely, if it determines that volatility in the equity market is relatively high, it may reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) the Fund’s EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Investment Process
Columbia Management uses the following two-part investment process that, together, pursues total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility:
Selects and determines allocations to the Underlying Funds (referred to as the Strategic Allocation); and
Invests in and determines allocations to the Tactical Assets to modify desired asset class exposures (referred to as the Tactical Allocation).
Strategic Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 40% to 90% of its net assets in Underlying Funds managed by Columbia Management, including those for which Columbia Management provides day-to-day portfolio management and those for which day-to-day portfolio management is provided by investment subadvisers hired by Columbia Management. Of the assets allocated to the Underlying Funds, the Fund may invest up to 100% of those assets in Equity Underlying Funds or Fixed-Income Underlying Funds (or some combination of the two).
The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds across various sectors, asset classes within the equity and fixed-income/debt asset classes, strategies and markets, including Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities of different investment styles (e.g., growth, value and core/blend), market capitalizations (e.g., large, mid and small cap) and geographic focus (e.g., domestic and international, including emerging markets), as well as those that invest in real estate securities and fixed-income or debt securities, including investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and asset-backed securities and international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures.
Underlying Fund selections and allocations are reviewed periodically by Columbia Management. Changes to Underlying Fund selections and allocations may be driven by various factors, including the risks and potential benefits of investing in a particular Underlying Fund as a means of achieving total return. During times of relatively high equity market volatility as determined by Columbia Management, Columbia Management may reduce or eliminate entirely the Fund’s allocation to Equity Underlying Funds and may alter Underlying Fund selections and allocations with more frequency in seeking to achieve desired levels of EEME.
Columbia Management also considers the independent analysis of Morningstar Associates (Morningstar), an independent investment consultant, with respect to the performance of the Underlying Funds, the types of investment categories represented by the Underlying Funds, and the consideration of additional asset classes, or segments within these classes represented by the Underlying Funds. Columbia Management retains full discretion over the Fund’s investment activities.
Tactical Allocation
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests 10% to 60% of its net assets in or employs such percentage of its net assets in the Tactical Allocation strategy, which include derivative transactions (such as futures, swaps, forward rate agreements, options and credit default swaps on baskets of securities (more commonly referred to as credit default swap indexes)), as well as direct investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and fixed-income or debt securities (such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (i.e., junk) instruments, sovereign debt, U.S. Government bonds and notes, TIPS, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, international bonds, each with varying interest rates, terms, durations and credit exposures and mortgage dollar rolls).
Through investments in Tactical Assets, Columbia Management seeks to adjust the Fund’s exposures to equity and fixed-income/ debt markets and to segments within those markets in response to its assessment of the relative risks and potential returns of these markets and segments. As with the Underlying Funds, the Fund may, through its tactical allocation strategy, reduce (or, in certain extreme cases, eliminate entirely) its EEME and, correspondingly, increase the Fund’s effective fixed-income/debt market exposure. Conversely, the Fund may also increase its EEME by employing the Tactical Assets to adjust upward the volatility level in the Fund’s portfolio closer to desired levels.
The Fund also seeks to reduce equity market volatility in the portfolio by purchasing or writing call and put options on liquid equity indices to protect against periods of decline in equity markets.
The Investment Manager believes that the use of the Tactical Assets, and derivative transactions and ETFs in particular, may provide more efficient and economical exposure to asset classes and segments than investments in or withdrawals from the Underlying Funds. As a result, Columbia Management expects to use derivatives and ETFs as primary tools for adjusting the Fund’s EEME.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Fund may hold a significant amount of cash, money market instruments or other high quality, short-term investments, including shares of affiliated money market funds, to cover obligations with respect to, or that may result from, the Fund’s derivative transactions. The Fund’s use of certain derivatives may create significant leveraged exposure to the equity and debt markets. Leverage occurs when the investments in derivatives create greater economic exposure than the amount invested. This means that the Fund could lose more than originally invested in the derivative.
The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade securities in the Fund’s portfolio to carry out its principal strategies.
Underlying Funds
Appendix A includes the list of the Underlying Funds available to the Fund within each asset class (equity, fixed-income and cash/cash equivalents (money market funds)), as well as a description of the Underlying Funds’ investment objectives and strategies. A description of the principal risks associated with the Underlying Funds is included in Appendix B. Columbia Management may add new Underlying Funds for investment or change Underlying Funds without the approval of shareholders.
Certain Underlying Funds, due to their characteristics, may fit into more than one category, and may be used by the Investment Manager to provide exposure to more than one of these categories. The prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the Underlying Funds include more detailed information about these Underlying Funds and are available free of charge by calling 800.345.6611.
Below are the Underlying Funds available to the Fund for investment within each asset class category. The Investment Manager may add new Underlying Funds for investment or change Underlying Funds without the approval of shareholders. Certain Underlying Funds, due to their characteristics, may fit into more than one category, and may be used by the Investment Manager to provide exposure to more than one of these categories. A description of the Underlying Funds’ investment objectives and strategies is included in Appendix A. A description of the principal risks associated with the Underlying Funds is included in Appendix B. The prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the Underlying Funds include more detailed information about these Underlying Funds and are available free of charge by calling 800.345.6611.
    
Equity Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund, Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund, Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund and Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund.
Fixed-Income Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund, Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund, Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund and Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund.
Cash/Cash Equivalent Underlying Funds Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund.
Pyramis is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Used under license.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including specific risks relating to the investment in the Fund based on its investment process and its "fund-of-funds" structure, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Allocation Risk.  The Fund uses an asset allocation strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. There is a risk that the Fund's allocation among asset classes, investments, managers, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund's shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.
Alternative Strategies Investment Risk. An investment in alternative investment strategies (Alternative Strategies), whether through direct investment or through an underlying fund(s), involves risks, which may be significant. Alternative Strategies may include strategies, instruments or other assets, such as derivatives, that seek investment returns uncorrelated with the broad equity and fixed income/debt markets, as well as those providing exposure to other markets (such as commodity markets), including but not limited to absolute (positive) return strategies. Alternative Strategies may fail to achieve their desired performance, market or other exposure, or their returns (or lack thereof) may be more correlated with the broad equity and/or fixed income/debt markets than was anticipated, and the fund may lose money.
Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the issuer's actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer's financial condition or in general economic conditions. Debt securities backed by an issuer's taxing authority may be subject to legal limits on the issuer's power to increase taxes or otherwise to raise revenue, or may be dependent on legislative appropriation or government aid. Certain debt securities are backed only by revenues derived from a particular project or source, rather than by an issuer's taxing authority, and thus may have a greater risk of default. If the Fund purchases unrated securities, or if the rating of a security is lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual. Unrated securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated securities.
Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of other underlying assets. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks. Depending on the type and purpose of the Fund’s derivative investments these risks may include: correlation risk (there may be an imperfect correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which is related to hedging risk), counterparty risk (the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and/or liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swap Indexes Risk. A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make one or more payments to the second party, while the second party assumes the risk of certain defaults, generally a failure to pay on a referenced debt obligation or the bankruptcy of the obligation’s issuer. As such, a CDS generally enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event. A credit default index (CDX) is an index of CDS. Credit default swap indexes (CDSX) are swap agreements that are intended to track the performance of a CDX. CDSX allow an investor, such as the Fund, to manage credit risk or to take a position on a basket of debt obligations more efficiently than
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
transacting in single name CDS. If a credit event occurs in one of the reference issuers, the protection is paid out through the delivery of the defaulted bond by the buyer of protection in return for payment of the notional value of the defaulted bond by the seller of protection or through a cash settlement between the two parties. The reference issuer is then removed from the index. CDSX are subject to the risk that the Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default were to occur, any contractual remedies that the Fund may have may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could delay or limit the Fund's recovery. Thus, if the counterparty under a CDSX defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays. The Fund’s return from investment in CDSX may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in CDSX could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of CDSX. If a referenced index has a dramatic intraday move that causes a material decline in the Fund’s net assets, the terms of the Fund’s CDSX may permit the counterparty to immediately close out the transaction. In that event, the Fund may be unable to enter into another CDSX or otherwise achieve desired exposure, even if the referenced index reverses all or a portion of its intraday move.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. Investment in these instruments subjects the Fund to risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that the Fund may incur in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investments in these instruments involve risks, including counterparty risk (a counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
(the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. An ETF’s share price may not track its specified market index (if any) and may trade below its net asset value. Certain ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and do not take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets. Other ETFs in which the Fund may invest are actively managed, which indirectly subjects the Fund to active management risk. An active secondary market in ETF shares may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions or other reasons. There can be no assurance that an ETF’s shares will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses incurred through ownership of the ETF. There is a risk that ETFs in which the Fund invests may terminate due to extraordinary events. For example, any of the service providers to ETFs, such as the trustee or sponsor, may close or otherwise fail to perform their obligations to the ETF, and the ETF may not be able to find a substitute service provider. Also, certain ETFs may be dependent upon licenses to use various indexes as a basis for determining their compositions and/or otherwise to use certain trade names. If these licenses are terminated, the ETFs may also terminate. In addition, an ETF may terminate if its net assets fall below a certain amount.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
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Fund-of-Funds Risk. Determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not successfully achieve the Fund’s investment objective, in whole or in part. The selected underlying funds’ performance may be lower than the performance of the asset class they were selected to represent or may be lower than the performance of alternative underlying funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. By investing in a combination of underlying funds, the Fund has exposure to the risks of many areas of the market. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objectives. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of each underlying fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in an underlying fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for an underlying fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of an underlying fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds for investment by the Fund, and may also face potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated funds, because the fees the Investment Manager receives from some underlying funds may be higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates can be described as nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-protected debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-protected debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. Income earned by a shareholder depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation unless the shareholder reinvests the portion of Fund distributions that comes from inflation adjustments. The Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell
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other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
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With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debt-holders.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Volatility and Volatility Management Risk. Although the Fund seeks to manage equity market volatility within its portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful. Despite the Fund’s name, the Fund’s portfolio may experience more than its targeted level of volatility, subjecting the Fund to market risk. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Funds’ portfolios may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Investment Manager’s determinations/expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility within the portfolio. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. Additionally, because the Fund seeks to target a particular level of effective equity market exposure (EEME), as stated above under “Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be curbed. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss (as reflected in a smaller target level of EEME), the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets. Additionally, to the extent that the Fund maximizes its EEME in low volatility markets, if the equity markets should decline in such low volatility markets, the Fund may experience greater loss than if it had not maximized its EEME.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiamanagement.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special
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risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Affiliated Products
As of the date of this prospectus, shares of the Fund are available solely to holders of variable annuity contracts issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, RiverSource Life) when the variable annuity contract holder has elected a guaranteed benefit rider that requires investment in the Fund (the Rider). RiverSource Life is an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., which is the parent company of Columbia Management, the Fund’s investment manager. RiverSource Life has financial obligations to holders of the Riders arising from guarantee obligations under such Riders, which vary based upon the investment performance of the Fund. RiverSource Life expects to benefit financially by offering this Fund, compared to offering other types of funds, in variable annuity contracts with Riders. For example, RiverSource Life expects to reduce its costs to purchase hedge investments associated with variable annuity contract liabilities tied to this Fund. It also expects to benefit from the greater liquidity of hedge investments used to meet its obligations under the Riders. In addition, it expects to reduce its capital requirements, which represent assets RiverSource Life sets aside to back the
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guarantees offered in its variable annuity contracts. As described above, RiverSource Life has a financial interest in reducing its potential exposure with respect to variable annuity contract values invested under the Riders. This may present a potential conflict of interest with respect to the interests of the holders of the Riders (who are required to allocate their variable annuity contract value to the Fund). In particular, RiverSource Life’s interest in reducing volatility within the Fund’s portfolio may present a potential conflict between it and Columbia Management as the latter seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of “total return while seeking to manage the Fund’s exposure to equity market volatility.” Effective June 2014, or such other date as determined by the Distributor, the Fund may also be owned by variable annuity contract holders who have not elected the Rider and in variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by RiverSource Life.
Columbia Management has a framework in place to ensure its management of the Fund is effected in the best interests of the Fund, without undue influence from RiverSource Life. Although an investment in the Fund may have the effect of mitigating declines in your Contract value (whether or not you have elected a Rider in your variable annuity contract) value, in the event of a significant decline in the equity markets, the strategy followed by the Fund, if successful, will also generally result in your Contract value increasing to a lesser degree than the equity markets, or decreasing when the values of equity investments are stable or rising. Depending on future market conditions and considering only the potential return on your investment in the Fund, a variable annuity contract holder electing the Rider might benefit (or benefit more) from selecting an investment option offered in connection with a different guaranteed benefit rider (if available) or alternate investments and a variable annuity contract holder who did not elect the Rider might benefit (or benefit more) from selecting an alternative investment option. In addition, there is no guarantee that the Fund’s strategy will have its intended effect, or that it will work as effectively as is intended.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information on the Fund's website (columbiamanagement.com) only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the Fund's website may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratio to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratio will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratio may be higher than the expense ratio presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratio that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses.
In addition to the total annual Fund operating expenses that the Fund bears directly, the Fund’s shareholders indirectly bear the expenses of the underlying funds (or acquired funds) in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” shown are based on its allocations to the underlying funds. Because acquired funds will have varied expense and fee levels and the Fund may own different proportions of acquired funds at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred by the Fund with respect to such investments will vary.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. These fees include certain sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing fees. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
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Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rate of:
    
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Class 2 1.10%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates. At present, the Investment Manager has not engaged any investment subadviser for the Fund.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.19% of average daily net assets of the Fund.
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The Investment Manager has implemented a schedule for the Fund’s investment management fees whereby the Fund pays (i) 0.00% on the Fund’s assets that are invested in underlying funds that pay an investment advisory fee to the Investment Manager; and (ii) 0.66% on the first $0.5 billion gradually reducing to 0.49% on its assets invested in securities (other than underlying funds that pay an investment advisory fee to the Investment Manager), including other funds advised by the Investment Manager that do not pay an investment advisory fee, exchange-traded funds, derivatives and individual securities. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Fund's investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Todd White   Managing Director and Head of Alternative and Absolute Return Investments   Lead manager   2012
Jeffrey Knight, CFA   Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Asset Allocation   Co-manager   2013
Kent Peterson, Ph.D.   Senior Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2012
Melda Mergen, CFA, CAIA   Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Oversight   Co-manager   2012
Kent Bergene   Portfolio Manager and Head of Subadvisory Oversight   Co-manager   2012
Brian Virginia   Portfolio Manager and Vice President, Senior Business Manager, Alternative and Absolute Return Investments   Co-manager   May 2014
Mr. White joined the Investment Manager in 2008. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. White was Managing Director, Global Head of the Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed securities businesses, and North American Head of the Interest Rate business, HSBC. Mr. White began his investment career in 1986 and earned a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University.
Mr. Knight joined the Investment Manager in February 2013 as Head of Global Asset Allocation. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Knight was at Putnam Investments. Mr. Knight began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business.
Mr. Peterson joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2006. Mr. Peterson began his investment career in 1999 and earned a B.A. from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from Princeton University.
Ms. Mergen joined the Investment Manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, where she worked as an investment professional since 1999. Ms. Mergen began her investment career in 1999 and earned a B.A. from Bogazici University and a M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Mr. Bergene joined the Investment Manager in 1981. Mr. Bergene began his investment career in 1981 and earned a B.S. from the University of North Dakota.
Mr. Virginia joined the Investment Manager in 2010. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Virginia was Vice President of Investor Services and Accounting at Citadel’s Omnium Administration. Mr. Virginia began his investment career in 1996 and earned a B.S. from Kansas State University.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
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More Information About the Fund (continued)
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
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Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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About Fund Shares and Transactions
References to the “Fund” throughout this section refer to the Fund and Underlying Funds, as the context requires.
Description of the Share Class
Share Class Features
The Fund offers Class 2 shares. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 2 shares.
    
  Class 2 Shares
Eligible Investors As of the date of this prospectus, Class 2 shares of the Fund are offered in variable annuity contracts issued by certain affiliated insurance companies when the variable annuity contract holder has elected a guaranteed benefit rider that requires investment in the Fund (the Rider). Effective June 30, 2014, or such other date determined by the Distributor, the Fund is available to variable annuity contracts with and without the Rider and to variable life insurance policies (Contracts).
Investment Limits none
Conversion Features none
Front-End Sales Charges none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day. Any affiliated underlying funds calculate their NAV in the same manner as the Fund calculates its NAV.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
The Fund calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners. When you sell your shares through your Contract, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies and may also be available to other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Additional Discussion of Potential Conflicts of Interest Relating to Funds Used Exclusively by Affiliated Insurance Companies
The Fund is sold exclusively as underlying investment options of the Contracts offered by RiverSource Life Insurance Company (RiverSource Life) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (collectively, the Companies). The Investment Manager and its affiliates make or support payments out of their own resources to the Companies as a result of the Companies including the Fund as an investment option in the Contracts. These allocations may be significant. In addition, employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of the Companies, may be separately incented to
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
include the Fund in the Contracts, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. These Contracts may also include unaffiliated mutual funds as investment options, and the Companies receive payments from the sponsors of these unaffiliated mutual funds as a result of including these funds in the products. The amount of payment from sponsors of unaffiliated funds or allocation from the Investment Manager and its affiliates varies, and may be significant. The amount of the payment or allocation the Companies receive from a Fund may create an incentive for the Companies and may influence their decision regarding which funds to include in a Contract. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers, may be separately incented to recommend or sell shares of the Fund, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the company’s success. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investments in the Fund increase. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including Columbia Management, and the Distributor, and the products they offer, including the Fund. These arrangements are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing payments,” and are in addition to any Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees or other amounts paid by the Fund for account maintenance, sub-accounting or recordkeeping services provided directly by the Companies. See About Fund Shares and Transactions - Selling Agent Compensation for more information generally about selling agent compensation and the Contract prospectus for more information regarding these payments and allocations relating to your Contract.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company , before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract. Any charges that apply to your Contract, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies that may own shares directly, are described in your Contract prospectus.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign
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About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders. The risks of excessive trading described above also apply to any underlying funds in which the Fund invests.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Distributions and Taxes
References to the “Fund” throughout this section refer to the Fund and Underlying Funds, as the context requires.
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Because the Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes, it is not required to and does not expect to make regular distributions to its shareholders (other than in redemption of Fund shares), but may do so in the sole discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (or its delegates).
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were not to qualify for such treatment, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level, which would reduce the value of an investment in the Fund.
As a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership,” the Fund is not itself subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each shareholder will be required to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes its allocable share of a Fund’s income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other tax items, without regard to whether such shareholder has received or will receive corresponding distributions from the Fund.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes allocations or distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts, or if the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership.”
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Distributions and Taxes (continued)
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
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Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s annual report. The independent registered public accounting firm’s report and the Fund’s financial statements are also incorporated by reference into the SAI.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 (a)
Per share data    
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.27 $10.00
Income from investment operations:    
Net investment income 0.10 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain 1.37 0.22
Total from investment operations 1.47 0.27
Net asset value, end of period $11.74 $10.27
Total return 14.31% 2.70%
Ratios to average net assets (b)    
Total gross expenses 0.50% 0.56% (c)
Total net expenses (d) 0.49% 0.53% (c)
Net investment income 0.94% 0.74% (c)
Supplemental data    
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $6,022,065 $2,136,697
Portfolio turnover 125% (e) 117% (e)
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) For the period from April 19, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
(b) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
(e) Includes mortgage dollar rolls. If mortgage dollar roll transactions were excluded, the portfolio turnover would have been 20% and 36% for the years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
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Appendix A
Underlying Funds — Investment Objectives and Strategies
The following is a brief description of the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of certain of the Underlying Funds (which are referred to as Funds in the descriptions below) in which the Funds may invest as part of their principal investment strategies. The Investment Manager may add new Underlying Funds for investment or change Underlying Funds without the approval of shareholders. The Investment Manager does not necessarily invest Fund assets in each of the Underlying Funds listed below. Additional information regarding the Underlying Funds is available in their prospectus and SAI. This prospectus is not an offer for any of the Underlying Funds. For copies of prospectuses of the Underlying Funds, which contains this and other information, call 800.345.6611. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with maximum current income consistent with liquidity and stability of principal.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in money market instruments, such as marketable debt obligations issued by corporations or the U.S. Government or its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, and commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks and U.S. Government securities. Additionally, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments.
Because the Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, capital appreciation is not expected to play a role in the Fund’s return. The Fund’s yield will vary from day to day.
The Fund restricts its investments to instruments that meet certain maturity and quality standards required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for money market funds. For example, the Fund:
Invests substantially in securities rated in the highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality. However, the Fund is permitted to invest up to 3% of its total assets in securities rated in the second highest short-term rating category, or deemed to be of comparable quality.
Limits its U.S. dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity to 60 days or less and its U.S. dollar-weighted average life to 120 days or less.
Buys obligations with remaining maturities of 397 days or less (as maturity is calculated by SEC rules governing the operation of money market funds).
Buys only obligations that are denominated in U.S. dollars and present minimal credit risk.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Contrarian Core Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of long-term capital appreciation and current income.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks. In addition, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that have large market capitalizations (generally over $2 billion) that the Fund’s investment manager believes are undervalued and have the potential for long-term growth and current income.
The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Core Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. The Fund generally invests at least 65% of its assets in debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, debt securities issued by corporations and other private
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Appendix A (continued)
issuers, and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in dollar-denominated debt securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities and up to 20% of its assets in preferred stock. The Fund’s dollar-weighted average maturity and duration will vary over time depending on expectations for market and economic conditions.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including interest rate futures) and swap contracts (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling instruments (including To Be Announced (TBA) securities) for investment purposes; inverse floaters, options (including listed futures) and collateralized debt obligations for investment purposes; and interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities for hedging and investment purposes. The Fund may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while attempting to conserve the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures (including interest rate futures) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; forward-settling transactions (including securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps and interest rate swaps) for hedging and managing yield curve, duration and interest rate exposure; options (including options on listed futures) for investment purposes; collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment and hedging purposes; and inverse floaters for investment purposes. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, steady growth of capital.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks. The selection of dividend-paying stocks is the primary decision in building the investment portfolio. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as structured investments (e.g., equity-linked notes), for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
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Appendix A (continued)
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including, but not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks) of companies located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include those countries whose economies are considered to be developing or emerging from underdevelopment.
The Fund may invest in a variety of countries, industries and sectors and does not attempt to invest a specific percentage of its assets in any given country, industry or sector. However, the Fund has invested substantially in the information technology and technology-related sectors and may continue to invest substantially in these or other sectors in the future. The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund may invest in securities that the investment manager believes are undervalued, represent growth opportunities, or both.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through current income and, secondarily, through capital appreciation.
The Fund invests primarily in fixed income securities of emerging markets issuers. For these purposes, emerging market countries are generally those either defined by World Bank-defined per capita income brackets or determined to be an emerging market based on the Fund investment team’s qualitative judgments about a country’s level of economic and institutional development, among other factors. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in fixed income securities of issuers that are located in emerging markets countries, or that earn 50% or more of their total revenues from goods or services produced in emerging markets countries or from sales made in emerging markets countries. Fixed income securities may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or the local currency of the issuer. While the Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single issuer. The Fund can invest in emerging market sovereign debt instruments of any credit quality including those rated investment grade and below investment grade or considered to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). Although the emerging markets sovereign debt universe largely consists of investment grade instruments, a significant portion of that universe is rated in these lower rating categories. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high total return through income and growth of capital.
The Fund invests primarily in debt obligations of U.S. and foreign issuers. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in investment-grade corporate or government debt obligations, including money market instruments, of issuers located in at least three different countries. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk in seeking to achieve higher dividends and/or capital appreciation by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
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Appendix A (continued)
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
In addition, in pursuing its objective, the Fund, relying on quantitative and qualitative analyses, may enter into various currency-, interest rate- and credit-related transactions involving derivatives instruments, including futures contracts (such as currency, bond, treasury, index and interest rate futures) and forward foreign currency contracts (forwards). The use of these derivatives instruments allows the Fund to obtain net long or net negative (short) exposure to selected currencies, interest rates and duration risks. The Fund may use these derivatives as well as “to be announced” (TBA) mortgage-backed securities in an effort to produce incremental earnings, for hedging purposes, to obtain increased or decreased exposures to various markets/sectors or to increase investment flexibility. Actual long and short exposures will vary over time based on factors such as market movements and assessments of market conditions.
The investment manager combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with risk management in identifying investment opportunities and constructing the Fund’s portfolio.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with high current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield debt instruments (commonly referred to as “junk” bonds or securities). These high yield debt instruments include corporate debt securities as well as floating rate loans rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments of foreign issuers.
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio managers in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s assets are invested primarily in income-producing debt securities, with an emphasis on the higher rated segment of the high-yield (junk bond) market. These income-producing debt securities include corporate debt securities as well as bank loans. The Fund will purchase only securities rated B or above, or if unrated, securities determined to be of comparable quality. If a security falls below a B rating after investment by the Fund, the Fund may continue to hold the security.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
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Appendix A (continued)
Corporate debt securities in which the Fund invests are typically unsecured, with a fixed-rate of interest, and are usually issued by companies or similar entities to provide financing for their operations, or other activities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. Because the Fund emphasizes high-yield investments, more emphasis is put on credit risk by the portfolio manager in selecting investments than either maturity or duration.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers that are believed to offer strong growth potential. The Fund may invest in developed and in emerging markets.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund 
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.15 billion to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that the investment manager believes have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology and technology-related sectors.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase or that are within the market capitalization range of companies in the S&P 500 Index (the Index) at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stocks. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts, for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes and to increase investment flexibility.
In pursuit of the Fund’s objective, the portfolio managers use quantitative analysis to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential investments.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a level of current income consistent with preservation of capital.
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Appendix A (continued)
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds. The Fund will primarily invest in debt securities with short- and intermediate-term maturities generally similar to those included in the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index (the Index). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund targets an average portfolio duration within one year of the duration of the Index which, as of March 31, 2014 was 2.89 years.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with growth of capital.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) at the time of purchase in the common stocks of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-cap companies are considered to be companies whose market capitalization (number of shares outstanding multiplied by the share price) falls within the market capitalization range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. As such, the size of the companies in which the Fund invests may change. As long as an investment continues to meet the Fund’s other investment criteria, the Fund may choose to continue to hold a stock even if the company’s market capitalization grows beyond the market capitalization of the largest company within the Index or falls below the market capitalization of the smallest company within the Index.
The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term, above-average earnings growth but may invest in companies for their short, medium or long-term prospects. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in foreign securities. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest in special situations such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers, mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies developing new technologies.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies. Medium-sized companies are those whose market capitalizations at the time of purchase fall within the market capitalization range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index) (between $968 million and $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund normally invests in common stocks and also may invest in real estate investment trusts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large Cap Growth Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies that have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index, at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the
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Appendix A (continued)
Index are subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. The Fund may invest directly in foreign securities or indirectly through depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector, health care sector and information technology sector.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of large capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $968 million and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which large market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 30 and 35 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of smaller capitalization issuers. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $18 million and $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees may change the parameters by which smaller market capitalization is defined if it concludes such a change is appropriate.
The Fund invests substantially in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund also invests substantially in “value” companies. The Fund considers “value” companies to be those companies believed by the investment manager to be undervalued, either historically, by the market, or as compared with issuers in the same or similar industry or sector. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector. The Fund may hold a small number of securities consistent with its value investment approach. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 40 and 50 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Strategic Income Fund (the Fund) seeks total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in debt securities in the following three segments of the debt securities market: (i) securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies, including mortgage- and other asset-backed securities; (ii) securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, including in emerging market countries and non-dollar denominated securities; and (iii) below investment grade corporate debt securities or unrated corporate debt securities determined to be of comparable quality, which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.”
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts for hedging and investment purposes; futures (including bond and interest rate futures) for managing duration and yield curve; forward-settling transactions (including dollar rolls, forward interest rate agreements and securities in the To Be Announced (TBA) market) for investment and hedging purposes; swaps (including credit default swaps, credit default swap indexes, cross currency swaps, interest rate swaps and total
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Appendix A (continued)
return swaps) for hedging and investment purposes; options (including options on listed futures) for hedging and investment purposes; and collateralized debt obligations, interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) bonds for investment purposes. The Fund may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income as its primary objective and, as its secondary objective, preservation of capital.
The Fund’s assets primarily are invested in mortgage-related securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in mortgage-related securities that either are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. This includes, but is not limited to, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) mortgage-backed bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government; and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) mortgage-backed bonds. FNMA and FHLMC are chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress; however, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities.
The Fund’s investments in mortgage-related securities include investments in stripped mortgage-backed securities such as interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity.
The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A (Rule 144A securities) that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market, in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, and/or to obtain or reduce credit exposure.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. At least 50% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Although the Fund emphasizes high- and medium-quality debt securities, it may assume increased credit risk by investing in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”).
The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and certain U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Ginnie Mae is supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Securities issued or guaranteed by other U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. However, they are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as credit default swaps, forward contracts (such as dollar rolls, pair-offs and investments in the To-Be-Announced market) and forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, and to increase market exposure and investment flexibility.
Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund
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Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return that exceeds the rate of inflation over the long term.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in inflation-protected debt securities. These securities include inflation-indexed bonds of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Government and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities, and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The Fund invests only in securities rated investment grade at the time of purchase by a third-party rating agency or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality. Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in sectors outside the Fund’s benchmark index, the Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index USD hedged (the Index). The Fund seeks to maintain an average duration that is within +/– 20% of the duration of the Index.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in debt obligations of foreign governments, and companies that (a) maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., (b) have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or (c) have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
The Fund may invest in derivatives such as futures (including bond and interest rate futures), options (including options on listed futures and options on over-the-counter futures), swaps (including interest rate and inflation rate, caps and floors swaps) and forward contracts, including forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund may enter into derivatives for investment purposes, for risk management (hedging) purposes, and to increase flexibility.
The portfolio managers may hedge any portion of the non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in the Fund to the U.S. dollar.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
The Fund is a non-diversified fund.
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in equity securities.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 75% of its total assets in foreign companies in developed markets (for example, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom) and in emerging markets (for example, China, India and Brazil).
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment.
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund
Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of U.S. companies.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. However, if the Fund's investments in such companies represent less than a majority of its net assets, the Fund may continue to hold and to make additional investments in an existing company in its portfolio even if that company's capitalization has grown to exceed $5 billion. Under
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Appendix A (continued)
normal circumstances, the Fund may invest in companies with market capitalizations above $5 billion at the time of initial investment, provided that immediately after that investment a majority of its net assets would be invested in companies whose market capitalizations were under $5 billion at the time of initial investment. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments.
The Subadviser believes that stocks of companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion, which generally are not as well known by financial analysts as larger companies, may offer higher return potential than stocks of larger companies.
Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large non-U.S. companies associated with developed markets that the Fund’s portfolio managers determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. These equity securities generally include common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in companies in three or more non-U.S. developed market countries.
Investments for the Fund will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Fund’s portfolio pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Fund will receive dividend income.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as futures contracts for equity securities and indices to gain market exposure on uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions, and forward foreign currency contracts in connection with the settlement of equity trades or the exchange of one currency for another.
Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund
Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in income producing floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities. These debt obligations will generally be rated non-investment grade by recognized rating agencies (similar to “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund invests in senior floating rate loans of borrowers (Senior Loans). The Fund may also purchase secured and unsecured subordinated loans, second lien loans and subordinate bridge loans (Junior Loans), or other floating rate debt securities, fixed income debt securities and money market instruments. For purposes of the 80% policy, money market holdings with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days will be deemed floating rate assets.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Floating rate loans are debt obligations of companies and other similar entities that have interest rates that adjust or “float” periodically (normally on a daily, monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis by reference to a base lending rate (such as London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR) plus a premium). Floating rate loans are typically structured and administered by a financial institution that acts as the agent of the lenders participating in the floating rate loan. The Fund may acquire loans directly through the agent or from another holder of the loan by assignment. They are generally valued on a daily basis by independent pricing services.
Variable Portfolio - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio - Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of large capitalization companies that fall within the range of the Russell 1000 ® Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
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The Fund invests primarily in U.S. companies. Generally, the Fund anticipates holding between 45 and 60 securities in its portfolio; however, the Fund may hold, at any time, more or fewer securities than noted in this range.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments, including emerging markets.
Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund’s assets are primarily invested in equity securities and depositary receipts of foreign issuers. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in securities of companies located in at least three countries outside the U.S., which may include significant investment in companies in the developed countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Basin. The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities that provide exposure to emerging markets. The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers of any market capitalization, including both large- and mid-capitalization issuers. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure, and futures contracts (including index futures) to seek exposure to the broad market in connection with managing cash balances or to hedge against downside risk. The Fund may also hold warrants in connection with the acquisition of securities.
Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income while conserving the value of the investment for the longest period of time.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities. Although the Fund is not an index fund, it invests primarily in securities like those included in the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the Index), which are investment grade and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Index includes securities issued by the U.S. Government, corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. The Fund does not expect to invest in securities rated below investment grade, although it may hold securities that, subsequent to the Fund’s investment, have been downgraded to a below investment grade rating.
Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization that falls within the range of the companies that comprise the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $1.1 billion to $35.7 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology sector.
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies believed to have the potential for long-term growth. These companies have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $1.1 billion and $503.8 billion as of March 31, 2014). The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts.
The Fund will not concentrate its assets in any single industry but may from time to time invest more than 25% of its assets in companies conducting business in various industries within an economic sector. The Fund will typically invest in a limited number of companies.
Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund
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Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund’s assets are invested primarily in equity securities. The Fund invests primarily in the stocks of companies that are believed to be undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies). Value companies tend to have stock prices that are low relative to their earnings, dividends, assets, or other financial measures.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, equity interests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and depositary receipts for such securities. While the Fund may invest its assets in companies of any size, the Fund generally focuses on large-capitalization companies. Large-capitalization companies are defined by the Fund as those companies with market capitalizations of at least $5 billion at the time of purchase.
Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund
Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of non-U.S. small cap companies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of non-U.S. small cap companies.
The Fund’s subadviser is an active, value-oriented, defensive manager that emphasizes small-cap opportunities for the Fund. The subadviser considers small cap companies to be those companies whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, falls within the range of companies in the MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index (the Index). The Index is composed of stocks which are categorized as small capitalization stocks and is designed to measure equity performance in 23 global developed markets, excluding the U.S. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $26 million to $9 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may also invest in emerging markets. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the industrials sector.
The Fund may invest in derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts in an effort to defensively hedge the currency of existing positions. The Fund also may purchase foreign currency in order to purchase foreign securities.
Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund
Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies in the real estate industry located throughout the world (Global Real Estate Companies). The Fund will invest primarily in companies in the real estate industry located in the developed countries of North America, Europe and Asia, but may also invest in emerging markets. A company is considered to be in the real estate industry if it (i) derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from the ownership, construction, management, financing or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate or (ii) has at least 50% of the fair market value of its assets invested in residential, commercial or industrial real estate. Companies in the real estate industry include, among others, real estate operating companies (REOCs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and similar entities formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in Global Real Estate Companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. As a result, the Fund may make substantial investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S.
Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund
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Appendix A (continued)
Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital and income.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of companies that pay or are expected to pay dividends.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities, directly or indirectly through depositary receipts. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector. The Fund also may invest in real estate investment trusts.
Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies with a market capitalization in excess of $4 billion at the time of purchase. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the consumer discretionary sector and the information technology sector.
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in the equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of purchase, of up to $2.5 billion, or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Growth Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $61 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the information technology and technology-related sectors.
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each subadviser employs an active investment strategy.
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in small cap companies. For these purposes, small cap companies are those that have a market capitalization, at the time of investment, of up to $2.5 billion or that fall within the range of the Russell 2000 ® Value Index (the Index). The Fund may buy and hold stock in a company that is not included in the Index. The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $18 million to $10.6 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in any type of securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Multiple subadvisers provide the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Each of the subadviser employs an active investment strategy that focuses on small companies in an attempt to take advantage of what are believed to be undervalued securities.
Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
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Appendix A (continued)
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in equity securities of foreign issuers, located or traded in countries other than the U.S., that are believed to offer strong growth potential. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests its assets in common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations fall within the range of the companies that comprise the MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $665 million to $242.95 billion as of March 31, 2014. The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund
Variable Portfolio – Pyrford International Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies located in countries outside the United States, including issuers in emerging markets countries. Equity securities include, without limitation, common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks.
Although the Fund may invest in companies across all market capitalizations, the Fund invests primarily in companies that, at the time of purchase, have a minimum market capitalization of $1 billion.
The Fund invests primarily in companies that are located in the countries represented in the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index (the Index), which includes developed countries outside of North America. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in companies that are located in countries not represented in the Index, such as emerging markets countries. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of companies listed on a non-U.S. securities exchange or quoted on an established foreign over-the-counter market, or American Depositary Receipts.
The Fund may invest in forward foreign currency contracts primarily for hedging purposes.
Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund
Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth.
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in dividend-paying common stocks. The Fund invests in dividend-paying, growth-oriented companies that are believed to exhibit the potential for growth and growing dividend. The Fund may invest in large to medium-sized companies with market capitalizations of at least $2 billion at the time of the Fund’s investment.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign investments.
Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund
Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with total return through current income and capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other debt securities, including debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations, debt securities issued by corporations, mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments, companies or other entities, bank loans and other obligations. The Fund invests at least 60% of its net assets in debt securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in at least one of the three highest rating categories or are unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund also may participate in mortgage dollar rolls, which are a type of derivative, up to the Fund’s then current position in mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity or duration at the Fund level.
Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign investments, which may include investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, as well as investments in emerging markets securities. In connection with its strategy relating to foreign investments, the Fund may buy or sell foreign currencies in lieu of or in addition to non-dollar denominated fixed-income securities in order to increase or decrease its exposure to foreign interest rate and/or currency markets.
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Appendix A (continued)
The Fund may invest in derivatives, including futures contracts (including currency, fixed income, index and interest rate futures), forward foreign currency contracts, forward rate agreements, options (including options on currencies, interest rates and swap agreements, which are commonly referred to as swaptions), swap contracts (including swaps on fixed income futures and credit default, cross-currency, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments, including instruments commonly known as mortgage derivatives, such as inverse floaters, To Be Announced (TBA) securities, and interest-only (IO), principal-only (PO), inverse IO and tiered index bonds. The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to produce incremental earnings, to hedge existing positions, to increase market or credit exposure and investment flexibility (including using the derivative as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security, currency or other asset), and/or to manage duration and yield curve of the Fund. The Fund also may invest in private placements.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities. This may cause the Fund to incur higher transaction costs (which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance).
Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund
Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term growth of capital.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, the Fund considers mid-cap companies to be those whose market capitalization falls within the range of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Index). The market capitalization range of the companies included within the Index was $968 million to $29.7 billion as of March 31, 2014.
The market capitalization range and composition of the companies in the Index are subject to change. The Fund may invest in American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Fund may from time to time emphasize one or more economic sectors in selecting its investments, including the financial services sector.
Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund
Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with current income consistent with capital preservation.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. Government obligations, including debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored entities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets within non-government mortgage and asset-backed securities.
In pursuit of its objective, the Fund will purchase only securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, within the two highest rating categories assigned by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, or if deemed to be of comparable quality. As part of the Fund’s investment strategy, it may invest in stripped securities (securities that have been transformed from a principal amount with periodic interest coupons into a series of zero-coupon bonds, with the range of maturities matching the coupon payment dates and the redemption date of the principal amount) or enter into mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements. In addition, the Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, and to a lesser extent, other securities rated AA- or Aa3 that the Fund’s subadviser believes will sufficiently outperform U.S. Treasuries. Generally, the portfolio’s overall dollar-weighted average effective duration is less than that of a 3-year U.S. Treasury note.
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Appendix B
Underlying Funds — Risks
The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to its allocation among underlying funds and the ability of those underlying funds to meet their investment objectives, as well as the investment performance of the Fund’s other investments.  The following is a brief description of certain of the principal risks associated with investment in the underlying funds in which the Fund may invest as part of its principal investment strategies.  The Fund is subject directly to these risks to the extent it invests in individual securities and other instruments.  Additional information regarding the principal risks associated with investment in the underlying funds is available in the applicable underlying fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.  This prospectus is not an offer for any of the underlying funds.
The references in each case to the “Fund” within each of the below risks descriptions in this Appendix B refers to the underlying fund(s) that the Fund invests in.
Active Management Risk. Certain Funds are actively managed by their portfolio managers. Certain other Funds are managed based primarily on quantitative methods, with the portfolio managers conducting a qualitative review of the quantitative output. In either case, the Funds could underperform their benchmark indices and/or other funds with a similar investment objective. The Funds may fail to achieve their investment objectives and you may lose money.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund's asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk (i.e., the risk that the Fund will have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.
Confidential Information Access Risk. The Investment Manager normally will seek to avoid the receipt of material, non-public information (Confidential Information) about the issuers of floating rate loans (including from the issuer itself) being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. The investment manager’s decision not to receive Confidential Information may disadvantage the Fund and could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle invested in by the Fund may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations. As a result, the Fund may obtain no or limited recovery of its investment, and any recovery may be significantly delayed.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that loans or other securities in the Fund’s portfolio may or will decline in price or fail to pay interest or repay principal when due because the borrower of the loan or the issuer of the security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations (such as making payments to the Fund), including as a result of bankruptcy. Bankruptcies may cause a delay to the Fund in acting on the collateral securing a loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is risk that a court could take action adverse to the holders of a loan. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. Lower quality or unrated loans or securities held by the Fund may present increased credit risk. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.
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Appendix B (continued)
Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may have limited voting rights and may not have the same rights as shareholders in the event of a corporate action such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering.
Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small movement in the price of an underlying security, instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivative investments will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, leverage risk and/or liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swap Indexes Risk. A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make one or more payments to the second party, while the second party assumes the risk of certain defaults, generally a failure to pay on a referenced debt obligation or the bankruptcy of the obligation’s issuer. As such, a CDS generally enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event. A credit default index (CDX) is an index of CDS. Credit default swap indexes (CDSX) are swap agreements that are intended to track the performance of a CDX. CDSX allow an investor, such as the Fund, to manage credit risk or to take a position on a basket of debt obligations more efficiently than transacting in single name CDS. CDSX are subject to the risk that the Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If the counterparty under a CDSX defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays. Also, the Fund’s return from investment in CDSX may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in CDSX could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of CDSX.
Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).
Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage-backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to leverage risk and counterparty risk.
Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. These instruments are a type of derivative contract whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts may fall in value (sometimes dramatically) due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The Fund’s strategy of investing in these instruments may not be successful. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk.
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Appendix B (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. These transactions involve risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and interest rate risk.
Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Futures contracts executed on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. These transactions involve additional risks, including counterparty risk, hedging risk and pricing risk.
Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR), swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund's investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging and correlation risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, including because of a lack of correlation between the swaps and the portfolio of bonds that the swaps are designed to hedge or replace), pricing risk (swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.
Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund's losses are potentially unlimited. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Derivatives Risk/Structured Investments Risk. Structured instruments include debt instruments that are collateralized by the underlying cash flows of a pool of financial assets or receivables. Structured investments may be less liquid than other debt securities (or illiquid), and the price of structured investments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on its terms, a structured investment may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured investments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. The Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If structured investments are used to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).
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Appendix B (continued)
Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk, hedging risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk.
Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk), and are subject to counterparty risk, pricing risk and liquidity risk, which may result in significant Fund losses.
Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value, as well being subject to liquidity risk.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Focused Portfolio Risk. Because the Fund may invest in a limited number of companies, the Fund as a whole is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities decline in price.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Currency-related Tax Risk. The Internal Revenue Service might issue regulations treating gains from some of the Fund’s foreign currency-denominated positions as not “qualifying income” and there is a remote possibility that such regulations might be applied retroactively, in which case, the Fund might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In the event the Treasury Department issues such regulations, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
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Appendix B (continued)
Frequent Trading Risk.  The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading can mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. The Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Asia Pacific Region Risk. Many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered underdeveloped or developing, including from a political, economic and/or social perspective, and may have relatively unstable governments and economies based on limited business, industries and/or natural resources or commodities. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the region as a whole. As a result, events in the region will generally have a greater effect on the Fund than if the Fund were more geographically diversified. This could result in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s investments and losses within the Fund. Also, securities of some companies in the region can be less liquid than U.S. or other foreign securities, potentially making it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.
Geographic Concentration Risk/Europe Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries in Europe. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. In addition, the private and public sectors’ debt problems of a single European Union (EU) country can pose significant economic risks to the EU as a whole. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund. If securities of issuers in Europe fall out of favor, it may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not concentrate in this region of the world.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may include highly leveraged transactions whereby the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.
Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.
Industry Concentration Risk.  Investments that are concentrated in a particular industry will make the Fund’s portfolio value more susceptible to the events or conditions impacting that particular industry. Because the Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in money market instruments issued by banks, the value of the Fund may be adversely affected by economic, political or regulatory developments in or that impact the banking industry.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. The Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
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Appendix B (continued)
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will usually affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. Similarly, a period of rising interest rates may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments. Price volatility is generally higher for illiquid investments. Generally, the less liquid the market at the time the Fund sells a portfolio investment, the greater the risk of loss to the Fund.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and may be less liquid than the securities of larger companies.
Money Market Fund Risk. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit, and is not insured or guaranteed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager's parent, the FDIC or any other government agency, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, but the net asset values of money market fund shares can fall, and in infrequent cases in the past have fallen, below $1.00 per share, potentially causing shareholders who redeem their shares at such net asset values to lose money from their original investment. If the net asset value of Fund shares were to fall below $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that the Investment Manager or its affiliates would protect the Fund or redeeming shareholders against a loss of principal.
At times of (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or a few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) insufficient levels of cash in the Fund's portfolio to satisfy redemption activity, and (iii) disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in order to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. Sales of portfolio securities at such times could result in losses to the Fund and cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. Additionally, in some cases, the default of a single portfolio security could cause the net asset value of Fund shares to fall below $1.00 per share. In addition, the Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.
Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of
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Appendix B (continued)
underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. Government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, but which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Mortgage- and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Multi-Adviser Risk. The Fund has multiple advisory firms that each manage a portion of the Fund’s net assets on a daily basis. Each adviser makes investment decisions independently from the other adviser(s). It is possible that the security selection process of one adviser will not complement or may conflict or even contradict that of the other adviser(s), including making off-setting trades that have no net effect to the Fund, but which may increase Fund expenses. As a result, the Fund's exposure to a given security, industry, sector or market capitalization could be smaller or larger than if the Fund were managed by a single adviser, which could adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates decrease or spreads narrow, the likelihood of prepayment increases. Conversely, extension risk is the risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage- or asset-backed security beyond the prepayment time. If the Fund's investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Quantitative Model Risk. Investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.
Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other things, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general. These include risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of interests in a REIT may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Appendix B (continued)
Regulatory Risk. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation or performance of the Fund. For example, the SEC has proposed amendments to money market regulation, which may have adverse consequences for money market funds, including the Fund. These changes, if adopted, may affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategies, and may impact the Fund’s future operations, performance and/or yields.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund's NAV even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund's risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that this strategy will be successful.
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in privately placed “Rule 144A” securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the consumer discretionary sector, health care sector and information technology sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the consumer discretionary sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to certain risks, including fluctuations in the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rate changes, increased competition and consumer confidence. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including reduced disposable household income, reduced consumer spending, changing demographics and consumer tastes.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the financial services sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the financial services sector are subject to certain risks, including the risk of regulatory change, decreased liquidity in credit markets and unstable interest rates. Such companies may have concentrated portfolios, such as a high level of loans to real estate developers, which makes them vulnerable to economic conditions that affect that industry. Performance of such companies may be affected by competitive pressures and exposure to investments or agreements that, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., subprime loans). Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation that may limit the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and interest rates and fees that they may charge. In addition, profitability of such companies is largely dependent upon the availability and the cost of capital.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the health care sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the health care sector are subject to certain risks, including restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, government approval of medical products and services, competitive pricing pressures, and the rising cost of medical products and services (especially for companies dependent
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Appendix B (continued)
upon a relatively limited number of products or services). Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including, government regulation, obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so), product liability and other similar litigation as well as product obsolescence.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the industrials sector than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the industrials sector are subject to certain risks, including changes in supply and demand for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general, including decline in demand for such products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including government regulation, world events and economic conditions and risks for environmental damage and product liability claims.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Short Positions Risk. The Fund may establish short positions which introduce more risk to the Fund than long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument or other asset) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument or other asset purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument or other asset plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument or other asset when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument or other asset, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument or other asset.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Small Company Securities Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may be exposed to heightened special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund
Appendix B (continued)
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. The cash flows and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. A slow rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of POs. If prepayments of principal are greater than anticipated, an investor in IOs may incur substantial losses. If prepayments of principal are slower than anticipated, the yield on a PO will be affected more severely than would be the case with a traditional mortgage-backed security.
U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Value Securities Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued. There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
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Table of Contents
Notes







































Table of Contents
For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies. Please refer to your Contract prospectus for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
S-6538-99 D (5/14)


Table of Contents
Prospectus
May 1, 2014
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  
The Fund may offer Class 1 and Class 2 shares to separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) and other qualified institutional investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the Fund.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Summary of the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay as an investor in the Fund. The table does not reflect any fees or expenses imposed by your Contract or Qualified Plan, which are disclosed in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents. If the additional fees or expenses were reflected, the expenses set forth below would be higher.
    
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Class 1 Class 2
Management fees 0.95% 0.95%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees 0.00% 0.25%
Other expenses (a) 0.26% 0.26%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.21% 1.46%
(a) Other expenses have been restated to reflect changes to certain fees paid by the Fund.
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated, and assumes that:
you invest $10,000 in the applicable class of Fund shares for the periods indicated,
your investment has a 5% return each year, and
the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same as shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table above.
The example does not reflect any fees and expenses that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan. Inclusion of these charges would increase expenses for all periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the assumptions listed above, your costs would be:
    
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class 1 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $123 $384 $665 $1,466
Class 2 (whether or not shares are redeemed) $149 $462 $797 $1,746
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 93% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund generally invests at least 80% of its assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies with business operations in technology and technology-related industries. For these purposes, technology-related companies are those companies that use technology extensively to improve their business processes and applications. The technology industry comprises information technology and communications, as well as medical, environmental and biotechnology. The Fund may invest in securities of companies domiciled in any country believed to be appropriate to the Fund’s objective. The Fund generally invests in several countries in different geographic regions.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S. The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that may result in the Fund investing less than 30% of its net assets in companies outside the U.S. in seeking to minimize extreme volatility caused by adverse market, economic, political or other conditions.
The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size. Securities of large capitalization companies that are well established in the world technology market can be expected to grow with the market and will frequently be held by the Fund. However, rapidly changing technologies and expansion of technology and technology-related industries often provide a favorable environment for companies of small-to-medium size capitalization, and the Fund may invest in these companies as well.
The Fund may invest in all types of securities, many of which will be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund normally concentrates its investments in common stocks; however, it may invest in other types of equity securities, including securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, depositary receipts, and rights and warrants to purchase common stock. The Fund also may invest up to 20% of its assets in preferred stock and investment-grade or comparable quality debt securities.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk. The Fund may also be forced to convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries, and some have a higher risk of currency devaluations.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. Foreign securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with investing in the particular country of an issuer, including the political, regulatory, economic, social, diplomatic and other conditions or events occurring in the country or region, as well as risks associated with less developed custody and settlement practices. Foreign securities may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in securities of U.S. companies, and are subject to the risks
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
associated with potential imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country. The performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Performance Information
The following bar chart and table show you how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s Class 2 share performance has varied for each full calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart compares the Fund’s returns for the periods shown with benchmark performance.
Class 2 share performance is shown in the bar chart because Class 2 shares have at least ten calendar years of performance and Class 2 shares are the most common share class offered to qualifying participants. Except for differences in annual returns resulting from differences in expenses (where applicable), the share classes of the Fund would have substantially similar annual returns because all share classes of the Fund invest in the same portfolio of securities.
The returns shown do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract or Qualified Plan and would be lower if they did.
The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information can be obtained by calling toll-free 800.345.6611 or visiting columbiamanagement.com.
    
Year by Year Total Return (%)
as of December 31 Each Year
Best and Worst Quarterly Returns
During the Period Shown in the Bar Chart

Best 1st Quarter 2012 21.18%
Worst

4th Quarter 2008 -23.49%
6 Prospectus 2014

Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Summary of the Fund (continued)
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended December 31, 2013)
  Share Class
Inception Date
1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class 1 05/01/1996 25.83% 18.99% 8.11%
Class 2 05/01/2000 25.48% 18.68% 7.88%
MSCI World IT Index (Net) (reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes but reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or other taxes)   28.72% 19.08% 6.15%
  
Fund Management
Investment Manager: Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Paul Wick   Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2006
Ajay Diwan   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2005
Sanjay Devgan   Portfolio Manager   Technology Team Member   March 2014
Shekhar Pramanick   Portfolio Manager   Technology Team Member   March 2014
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund is available for purchase through Contracts offered by the separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans or by other eligible investors authorized by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the Distributor). Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold by individual owners of Contracts or Qualified Plans. If you are a Contract holder or Qualified Plan participant, please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about minimum investment requirements and how to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund.
Tax Information
The Fund normally distributes its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders, which are generally the participating insurance companies and Qualified Plans investing in the Fund through separate accounts. These distributions may not be taxable to you as the holder of a Contract or a participant in a Qualified Plan. Please consult the prospectus or other information provided to you by your participating insurance company and/or Qualified Plan regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your contract, policy and/or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you make allocations to the Fund, the Fund, its Distributor or other related companies may pay participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries for the allocation (sale) of Fund shares and related services in connection with such allocations to the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the participating insurance company, other financial intermediary or your salesperson to recommend an allocation to the Fund over another fund or other investment option. Ask your financial advisor or salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
More Information About the Fund
Investment Objective
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation. Only shareholders can change the Fund’s investment objective. Because any investment involves risk, there is no assurance the Fund’s objective will be achieved.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund generally invests at least 80% of its assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies with business operations in technology and technology-related industries. For these purposes, technology-related companies are those companies that use technology extensively to improve their business processes and applications. The technology industry comprises information technology and communications, as well as medical, environmental and biotechnology. The Fund may invest in securities of companies domiciled in any country believed to be appropriate to the Fund’s objective. The Fund generally invests in several countries in different geographic regions.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund generally invests at least 40% of its net assets in companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. This 40% minimum investment amount may be reduced to 30% if market conditions for these investments or specific foreign markets are deemed unfavorable. The Fund considers a company to conduct its principal business activities outside the U.S. if it derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the U.S. or had at least 50% of its assets outside the U.S. The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that may result in the Fund investing less than 30% of its net assets in companies outside the U.S. in seeking to minimize extreme volatility caused by adverse market, economic, political or other conditions.
The Fund may invest in companies that have market capitalizations of any size. Securities of large capitalization companies that are well established in the world technology market can be expected to grow with the market and will frequently be held by the Fund. However, rapidly changing technologies and expansion of technology and technology-related industries often provide a favorable environment for companies of small-to-medium size capitalization, and the Fund may invest in these companies as well.
The Fund may invest in all types of securities, many of which will be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund normally concentrates its investments in common stocks; however, it may invest in other types of equity securities, including securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, depositary receipts, and rights and warrants to purchase common stock. The Fund also may invest up to 20% of its assets in preferred stock and investment-grade or comparable quality debt securities.
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the Investment Manager) seeks to identify those technology companies that it believes have the greatest prospects for future growth, regardless of their countries of origin. The Fund uses an investment style that combines research into individual company attractiveness with macro analysis. This means that the Investment Manager uses extensive in-depth research to identify attractive technology companies around the world, while seeking to identify particularly strong technology sectors and/or factors within regions or specific countries that may affect investment opportunities.
In selecting individual securities, the Investment Manager looks for companies that it believes display one or more of the following:
Above-average growth prospects;
High profit margins;
Attractive valuations relative to earnings forecasts or other valuation criteria (e.g., return on equity);
Quality management and equity ownership by executives;
Unique competitive advantages (e.g., market share, proprietary products); or
Potential for improvement in overall operations.
In evaluating whether to sell a security, the Investment Manager considers, among other factors, whether in its view:
Its target price has been reached;
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Its earnings are disappointing;
Its revenue growth has slowed;
Its underlying fundamentals have deteriorated; or
If the Investment Manager believes that negative country or regional factors may affect a company’s outlook.
The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than can a diversified fund.
The Fund’s investment policy with respect to 80% of its net assets may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval as long as shareholders are given 60 days advance written notice of the change.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund involves risk, including those described below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you may lose money . The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) and share price may go down.
Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are able to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies. The Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt security will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, like Russia and those in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk . In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political and economic conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, and the performance of the Fund may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in a
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foreign currency’s strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose potentially confiscatory withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gains from foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks. The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of actual or perceived factors affecting an issuer (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), the industry or sector in which it operates, or the market as a whole, which may reduce the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. Although equity securities generally tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities, under certain market conditions debt securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. In addition, stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.
Non-Diversified Fund Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified, which generally means that it will invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. This increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a diversified fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the Fund's value will likely be more volatile than the value of a more diversified fund.
Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector, including the technology and technology-related sectors. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
The Fund may be more susceptible to the particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector, as well as other technology-related sectors (collectively, the technology sectors) than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. Companies in the technology sectors are subject to certain risks, including the risk that new services,
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equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. Performance of such companies may be affected by factors including obtaining and protecting patents (or the failure to do so) and significant competitive pressures, including aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share and short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments. Such competitive pressures may lead to limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. As a result, the value of their securities may fall or fail to rise. In addition, many technology sector companies have limited operating histories and prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in losses to the Fund. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.
Additional Investment Strategies and Policies
This section describes certain investment strategies and policies that the Fund may utilize in pursuit of its investment objective and some additional factors and risks involved with investing in the Fund.
Investment Guidelines
As a general matter, and except as specifically described in the discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies in this prospectus, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with that percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund's investment in the security or asset.
Holding Other Kinds of Investments
The Fund may hold investments that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and their risks are described below and/or in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The Fund may choose not to invest in certain securities described in this prospectus and in the SAI, although it has the ability to do so. Information on the Fund’s holdings can be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports or by visiting columbiamanagement.com.
Transactions in Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values are, for example, based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or bond), assets (such as a commodity like gold or a foreign currency), reference rates (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (commonly known as LIBOR)) or market indices (such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 ® Index). The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses or may limit the Fund's potential gain from favorable market movements. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may exaggerate a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security or other asset directly. The values of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility in the value of the derivative and/or the Fund’s shares, among other consequences. Other risks arise from the Fund's potential inability to terminate or to sell derivative positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or to sell such positions. Over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) may be illiquid, and transactions in derivatives traded in the over-the-counter market are subject to the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations. The use of derivatives also involves the risks of mispricing or improper valuation and that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security, asset, reference rate or index. The Fund also may not be able
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to find a suitable derivative transaction counterparty, and thus may be unable to engage in derivative transactions when it is deemed favorable to do so, or at all. U.S. federal legislation has been enacted that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. These changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s participation in derivatives transactions. For more information on the risks of derivative investments and strategies, see the SAI.
Investing in Affiliated Funds
The Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser to mutual funds using the Columbia brand (Columbia Funds), including those that are structured as “fund-of-funds”, and provides asset-allocation services to (i) shareholders by investing in shares of other Columbia Funds, which may include the Fund (collectively referred to in this section as Underlying Funds), and (ii) discretionary managed accounts (collectively referred to as affiliated products) that invest exclusively in Underlying Funds. These affiliated products, individually or collectively, may own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of one or more Underlying Funds, and the Investment Manager seeks to balance potential conflicts of interest between the affiliated products and the Underlying Funds in which they invest. The affiliated products’ investment in the Underlying Funds may have the effect of creating economies of scale, possibly resulting in lower expense ratios for the Underlying Funds, because the affiliated products may own substantial portions of the shares of Underlying Funds. However, redemption of Underlying Fund shares by one or more affiliated products could cause the expense ratio of an Underlying Fund to increase, as its fixed costs would be spread over a smaller asset base. Because of large positions of certain affiliated products, the Underlying Funds may experience relatively large inflows and outflows of cash due to affiliated products’ purchases and sales of Underlying Fund shares. Although the Investment Manager or its affiliate may seek to minimize the impact of these transactions where possible, for example, by structuring them over a reasonable period of time or through other measures, Underlying Funds may experience increased expenses as they buy and sell portfolio securities to manage the cash flow effect related to these transactions. Further, when the Investment Manager or its affiliate structures transactions over a reasonable period of time in order to manage the potential impact of the buy and sell decisions for the affiliated products, those affiliated products, including funds-of-funds, may pay more or less (for purchase activity), or receive more or less (for redemption activity), for shares of the Underlying Funds than if the transactions were executed in one transaction. In addition, substantial redemptions by affiliated products within a short period of time could require the Underlying Fund to liquidate positions more rapidly than would otherwise be desirable, which may have the effect of reducing or eliminating potential gain or causing it to realize a loss. Substantial redemptions may also adversely affect the ability of the Underlying Fund to implement its investment strategy. The Investment Manager or its affiliate also has an economic conflict of interest in determining the allocation of affiliated products’ assets among the Underlying Funds, as it earns different fees from the various Underlying Funds.
Investing in Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest cash in, or hold as collateral for certain investments, shares of registered or unregistered money market funds, including funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The Fund and its shareholders indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any money market fund or other fund in which the Fund may invest.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries on a fully collateralized basis in order to earn additional income. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.
The Fund currently does not participate in the securities lending program but the Board of Trustees (the Board) may determine to renew participation in the future. For more information on lending of portfolio securities and the risks involved, see the Fund’s SAI and its annual and semiannual reports to shareholders.
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Investing Defensively
The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.
The Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Investing defensively may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. See also Investing in Money Market Funds above for more information.
Other Strategic and Investment Measures
The Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposures to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager believes such positioning is appropriate. The Fund may take such portfolio positions for as long a period as deemed necessary. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and decreased Fund performance. For information on the risks of investing in derivatives, see Transactions in Derivatives above.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Board has adopted policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the securities owned by the Fund. A description of these policies and procedures is included in the SAI. Fund policy generally permits the disclosure of portfolio holdings information on the Fund's website (columbiamanagement.com) only after a certain amount of time has passed, as described in the SAI.
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities can take place at any time, so the portfolio holdings information available on the Fund's website may not always be current.
FUNDamentals
Portfolio Holdings Versus the Benchmarks
The Fund does not limit its investments to the securities within its benchmark(s), and accordingly the Fund's holdings may diverge significantly from those of the benchmark(s). In addition, the Fund may invest in securities outside the industry and geographic sectors represented in its benchmark(s). The Fund's weightings in individual securities, and in industry and geographic sectors, may also vary considerably from those of its benchmark(s).
Cash Flows
The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent the Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to shareholders redeeming Fund shares could require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at less than opportune times or to hold ready reserves of uninvested cash in amounts larger than might otherwise be the case to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
Understanding Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The Fund’s annual operating expenses, as presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section of this prospectus, generally are based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year and are expressed as a percentage (expense ratio) of the Fund’s average net assets during that fiscal year. The expense ratio reflects the Fund’s fee arrangements as of the date of this prospectus and is based on expenses incurred during the Fund’s most
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recent fiscal year. The Fund’s assets will fluctuate, but no adjustments have been or will be made to the expense ratios to reflect any differences between the Fund’s average net assets during the most recently completed fiscal year, the date of this prospectus or a later date. In general, the Fund’s expense ratios will increase as its net assets decrease, such that the Fund’s actual expense ratios may be higher than the expense ratios presented in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table if assets fall. Any commitment by the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates to waive fees and/or cap (reimburse) expenses is expected, in part, to limit the impact of any increase in the Fund’s operating expense ratios that would otherwise result because of a decrease in the Fund’s assets in the current fiscal year. The Fund’s annual operating expenses are comprised of (i) investment management fees, (ii) distribution and/or service fees, and (iii) other expenses. Management fees do not vary by class, but distribution and/or service fees and other expenses may vary by class.
FUNDamentals
Other Expenses
“Other expenses” consist of the fees the Fund pays to its administrator, custodian, transfer agent, auditors, lawyers and trustees, costs relating to compliance and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, these expenses are the same for each share class and are allocated on a pro rata basis across all share classes. Certain shareholder servicing fees, however, are class specific. They differ by share class because the shareholder services provided to each share class may be different. Accordingly, the differences in “other expenses” among share classes are primarily the result of the different shareholder servicing fees applicable to each share class. For more information on these fees, see About Fund Shares and Transactions — Selling Agent Compensation.
Expense Reimbursement Arrangements and Impact on Past Performance
The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses described below), so that the Fund’s net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed the annual rates of:
    
Columbia Variable Portfolio - Seligman Global Technology Fund
Class 1 1.00%
Class 2 1.25%
Under the arrangement, the following fees and expenses are excluded from the Fund’s operating expenses when calculating the waiver/reimbursement commitment, and therefore will be paid by the Fund, if applicable: taxes (including foreign transaction taxes), expenses associated with investment in affiliated and non-affiliated pooled investment vehicles (including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds), transaction costs and brokerage commissions, costs related to any securities lending program, dividend expenses associated with securities sold short, inverse floater program fees and expenses, transaction charges and interest on borrowed money, interest, extraordinary expenses and any other expenses the exclusion of which is communicated to the Board. This arrangement may be revised or discontinued at any time.
Effect of Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements on Past Performance. The Fund’s returns shown in the Performance Information section of this prospectus reflect the effect of any fee waivers and/or reimbursements of Fund expenses by the Investment Manager and/or any of its affiliates and any predecessor firms that were in place during the performance period shown. Without such fee waivers/expense reimbursements, the Fund’s returns might have been lower.
Primary Service Providers
The Investment Manager, which also serves as the Fund’s administrator (the Administrator), the Distributor and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the Transfer Agent) are all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial). They and their affiliates currently provide key services, including investment advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder servicing and transfer agency services, to the Fund and various other funds, including the Columbia Funds, and are paid for providing these services. These service relationships are described below.
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The Investment Manager
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 and serves as investment adviser to the Columbia Funds. The Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Investment Manager’s management experience covers all major asset classes, including equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. In addition to serving as an investment adviser to traditional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds, the Investment Manager acts as an investment adviser for itself, its affiliates, individuals, corporations, retirement plans, private investment companies and financial intermediaries.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Investment Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager may use the research and other capabilities of its affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments.
The SEC has issued an order that permits the Investment Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for the Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create certain conflicts of interest. When making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, the Investment Manager does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and the Investment Manager discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser or its affiliates. At present, the Investment Manager has not engaged any investment subadviser for the Fund.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee for its investment advisory services. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund and is paid monthly. For the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, aggregate advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by the Fund amounted to 0.95% of average daily net assets of the Fund. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the renewal of the Fund's investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.
Portfolio Managers
Information about the portfolio managers primarily responsible for overseeing the Fund’s investments is shown below. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including information relating to compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and ownership by the portfolio managers of Fund shares.
    
Portfolio Manager   Title   Role with Fund   Managed Fund Since
Paul Wick   Portfolio Manager   Lead manager   2006
Ajay Diwan   Portfolio Manager   Co-manager   2005
Sanjay Devgan   Portfolio Manager   Technology Team Member   March 2014
Shekhar Pramanick   Portfolio Manager   Technology Team Member   March 2014
Prior to the Investment Manager’s acquisition of Seligman in November 2008, Mr. Wick was a Managing Director of Seligman. Mr. Wick joined Seligman in 1987. Mr. Wick began his investment career in 1987 and earned a B.A. from Duke and an M.B.A. from Duke/Fuqua.
Prior to the Investment Manager’s acquisition of Seligman in November 2008, Mr. Diwan was a Managing Director of Seligman. Mr. Diwan joined Seligman in 2001. Mr. Diwan began his investment career in 1990 and earned a B.S. from Case Western Reserve University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Mr. Devgan joined the Investment Manager in 2012. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Devgan was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley providing equity research on the semiconductor industry. Prior to his work at Morgan Stanley, he was a Senior Financial Business Analyst at Cisco Systems covering operations finance, and worldwide sales finance. Mr. Devgan began his investment career in 1995 and earned a B.S. from University of California and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.
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Mr. Pramanick joined the Investment Manager in 2012. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Pramanick was a principal at Elemental Capital Partners focusing on global semiconductor devices, memory, capital equipment and disk drives. Prior to that, he was a semiconductor analyst at Season Capital Management. Mr. Pramanick began his investment career in 1993 and earned a B.S. from the National Institute of Technology, an M.S. from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.
The Administrator
Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations of the Fund, including the general supervision of the Fund’s operations, the coordination of the Fund’s service providers and the provision of related clerical and administrative services. The Fund pays the Administrator a fee (plus certain out-of-pocket expenses) for the administrative services it provides to the Fund.
The Distributor
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., which is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay commissions, distribution and service fees and/or other compensation to entities, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for selling shares and providing services to investors.
The Transfer Agent
Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. is a registered transfer agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial. The Transfer Agent is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, and its responsibilities include processing purchases, redemptions and transfers of Fund shares, calculating and paying distributions, maintaining shareholder records, preparing account statements and providing customer service. The Fund pays the Transfer Agent monthly fees on a per-account basis. The Transfer Agent has engaged Boston Financial Data Services (BFDS) to provide various sub-transfer agency services. Fees paid to the Transfer Agent also include reimbursements for certain out-of pocket expenses paid by the Transfer Agent on the Fund’s behalf. The Transfer Agent may pay a portion of these fees to participating insurance companies or other financial intermediaries that provide sub-recordkeeping and other services to Contract owners, Qualified Plan participants and the separate accounts.
Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest
The Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, provide various services to the Fund and other Columbia Funds for which they are compensated. Ameriprise Financial and its other affiliates may also provide other services to these funds and be compensated for them.
The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide investment advisory and other services to other clients and customers substantially similar to those provided to the Columbia Funds. These activities, and other financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may present actual and potential conflicts of interest and introduce certain investment constraints.
Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company, engaged in a broad range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, insurance, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, banking and other financial activities. These additional activities may involve multiple advisory, financial, insurance and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies that issue securities and other instruments, that may be bought, sold or held by the Columbia Funds.
Conflicts of interest and limitations that could affect a Columbia Fund may arise from, for example, the following:
compensation and other benefits received by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates related to the management/administration of a Columbia Fund and the sale of its shares;
the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Fund, other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, or Ameriprise Financial itself and its affiliates;
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
More Information About the Fund (continued)
separate and potentially divergent management of a Columbia Fund and other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates;
regulatory and other investment restrictions on investment activities of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and accounts advised/managed by them;
insurance and other relationships of Ameriprise Financial affiliates with companies and other entities in which a Columbia Fund invests;
regulatory and other restrictions relating to the sharing of information between Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, and a Columbia Fund; and
insurance companies investing in the Fund may be affiliates of Ameriprise Financial; these affiliated insurance companies, individually and collectively, may hold through separate accounts a significant portion of the Fund's shares and may also invest in separate accounts managed by the Investment Manager that have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial have adopted various policies and procedures that are intended to identify, monitor and address conflicts of interest. However, there is no assurance that these policies, procedures and disclosures will be effective.
Additional information about Ameriprise Financial and the types of conflicts of interest and other matters referenced above is set forth in the Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest section of the SAI. Investors in the Columbia Funds should carefully review these disclosures and consult with their financial advisor if they have any questions.
Certain Legal Matters
Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Fund is not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Fund. Information regarding certain pending and settled legal proceedings may be found in the Fund’s shareholder reports and in the SAI. Additionally, Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the SEC on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at sec.gov.
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Table of Contents
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions
Description of the Share Classes
Share Class Features
The Fund offers the classes of shares set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of the Class 1 and Class 2 shares.
    
  Class 1 Shares Class 2 Shares
Eligible Investors Shares of the Fund are available only to separate accounts of participating insurance companies as underlying investments for variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies (collectively, Contracts) or qualified pension and retirement plans (Qualified Plans) or other eligible investors authorized by the Distributor.
Investment Limits none none
Conversion Features none none
Front-End Sales Charges none none
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) none none
Maximum Distribution and/or Service Fees none 0.25%
FUNDamentals
Selling and/or Servicing Agents
The terms “selling agent” and “servicing agent” (collectively, selling agents) refer to the insurance company that issued your contract, qualified pension or retirement plan sponsors or the financial intermediary that employs your financial advisor. Selling agents also include broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.
Distribution and/or Service Fees
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), the Board has approved, and the Fund has adopted, a distribution plan which sets the distribution fees that are periodically deducted from the Fund’s assets for Class 2 shares. The distribution fee for Class 2 shares is 0.25%. These fees are calculated daily, may vary by share class and are intended to compensate the Distributor and/or selling agents for selling shares of the Fund and/or providing services to investors. Because the fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time.
The Fund will pay these fees to the Distributor and/or to eligible selling agents for as long as the distribution plan continues. The Fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time.
Selling Agent Compensation
The Distributor and the Investment Manager make payments, from their own resources, to selling agents, including to affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies (each an intermediary), for marketing/sales support services relating to the Columbia Funds. The amount and computation of such payments varies by Fund, although such payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Columbia Funds sold by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, gross sales of the Columbia Funds distributed by the Distributor attributable to that intermediary, or a negotiated lump sum payment. While the financial arrangements may vary for each intermediary, the support payments to any one intermediary are generally between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the Fund attributable to the intermediary, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for an intermediary receiving a payment based on gross sales of the Columbia Funds attributable to the intermediary. The Distributor and the Investment Manager may make payments in larger amounts or on a basis other than those described above when dealing with certain intermediaries, including certain affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments may enable such selling agents to offset credits that they may provide to customers. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the Columbia Funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the Columbia Funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the Distributor and the Investment Manager, and the products they offer, including the Fund.
In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
Amounts paid by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates are paid out of the Distributor’s and the Investment Manager’s own resources and do not increase the amount paid by you or the Fund. You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by the Distributor and the Investment Manager and their affiliates, as well as a list of the selling agents, including Ameriprise Financial affiliates, to which the Distributor and the Investment Manager have agreed to make marketing/sales support payments.
Your selling agent may charge you fees and commissions in addition to those described herein. You should consult with your selling agent and review carefully any disclosure your selling agent provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a selling agent may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive with respect to its recommendations regarding the Fund or any Contract that includes the Fund.
Share Price Determination
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or transfer shares is the Fund's next determined net asset value (or NAV) per share for a given share class. The Fund calculates the NAV per share for each class of shares of the Fund at the end of each business day.
FUNDamentals
NAV Calculation
Each of the Fund's share classes calculates its NAV as follows:
NAV =   (Value of assets of the share class) – (Liabilities of the share class)
Number of outstanding shares of the class
FUNDamentals
Business Days
A business day is any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. A business day ends at the close of regular trading on the NYSE, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. If the NYSE closes early, the business day ends as of the time the NYSE closes. On holidays and other days when the NYSE is closed, the Fund's NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not accept buy or sell orders. However, the value of the Fund's assets may still be affected on such days to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on days that foreign securities markets are open.
Equity securities are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations reported on stock exchanges and other securities markets around the world. If an equity security is listed on a national exchange, the security is valued at the closing price or, if the closing price is not readily available, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Certain equity securities, debt securities and other assets are valued differently. For instance, bank loans trading in the secondary market are valued primarily on the basis of indicative bids, fixed-income investments maturing in 60 days or less are valued primarily using the amortized cost method and those maturing in excess of 60 days are valued at the readily available market price, if available. Investments in other open-end funds are valued at their NAVs. Both market quotations and indicative bids are obtained from outside pricing services approved and monitored pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. For a money market fund, the Fund's investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
If a market price isn't readily available or is deemed not to reflect market value, the Fund will determine the price of the security held by the Fund based on a determination of the security's fair value pursuant to a policy approved by the Fund's Board. In addition, the Fund may use fair valuation to price securities that trade on a foreign exchange when a significant event has occurred after the foreign exchange closes but before the time at which the Fund's share price is calculated. Foreign exchanges typically close before the time at which Fund share prices are calculated, and may be closed altogether on some days when the Fund is open. Such significant events affecting a foreign security may include, but are not limited to: (1) corporate actions, earnings announcements, litigation or other events impacting a single issuer; (2) governmental action that affects securities in one sector or country; (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts affecting a country or region; or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations. The Fund uses various criteria, including an evaluation of U.S. market moves after the close of foreign markets, in determining whether a foreign security's market price is readily available and reflective of market value and, if not, the fair value of the security. To the extent the Fund has significant holdings of small cap stocks, high yield bonds, floating rate loans, or tax-exempt, foreign or other securities that may trade infrequently, fair valuation may be used more frequently than for other funds.
Fair valuation may have the effect of reducing stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, when the Fund uses fair valuation to price securities, it may value those securities higher or lower than another fund would have priced the security. Also, the use of fair valuation may cause the Fund's performance to diverge to a greater degree from the performance of various benchmarks used to compare the Fund's performance because benchmarks generally do not use fair valuation techniques. Because of the judgment involved in fair valuation decisions, there can be no assurance that the value ascribed to a particular security is accurate. The Fund has retained one or more independent fair valuation pricing services to assist in the fair valuation process for foreign securities.
Shareholder Information
Each share class has its own cost structure and other features. Your product may not offer every share class. The Fund encourages you to consult with a financial advisor who can help you with your investment decisions and for more information about the share classes offered by the Fund and available under your product. Shares of the Fund are generally available for purchase only by participating insurance companies in connection with Contracts and Qualified Plan sponsors.
Shares of the Fund may not be purchased or sold directly by individual Contract owners or participants in a Qualified Plan. When you sell your shares through your Contract or Qualified Plan, the Fund is effectively buying them back. This is called a redemption. The right of redemption may be suspended or payment postponed whenever permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
Depending on the context, references to “you” or “your” herein refer either to the holder of a Contract, participant in a Qualified Plan or qualified institutional investor who may select Fund shares to fund his or her investment in the Contract or Qualified Plan or to the participating insurance company as the holder of Fund shares through one or more separate accounts or the Qualified Plan.
Potential Conflicts of Interest – Mixed and Shared Funding
The Fund is available for purchase only through Contracts offered by participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Distributor. Due to differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners, and the interests of Qualified Plan participants, if any, may conflict. The Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to investors arising from these potential conflicts of interest at this time. Nevertheless, the Board of the Fund intends to monitor events to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may arise, and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any conflicts. If such a conflict were to arise, one or more separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Fund or shares of another mutual fund may be substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices.
Order Processing
Orders to buy and sell shares of the Fund that are placed by your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor are processed on business days. Orders received in “good form” by the Transfer Agent or a selling agent, including your participating insurance company or Qualified Plan sponsor, before the end of a business day are priced at the Fund’s NAV per
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
share on that day. Orders received after the end of a business day will receive the next business day’s NAV per share. The market value of the Fund’s investments may change between the time you submit your order and the time the Fund next calculates its NAV per share. The business day that applies to your order is also called the trade date.
There is no sales charge associated with the purchase of Fund shares, but there may be charges associated with your Contract or Qualified Plan. Any charges that apply to your Contract or Qualified Plan, and any charges that apply to separate accounts of participating insurance companies or Qualified Plans that may own shares directly, are described in your separate Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents.
You may transfer all or part of your investment in the Fund to one or more of the other investment options available under your Contract or Qualified Plan. You may provide instructions to sell any amount allocated to the Fund. Proceeds will be mailed within seven days after your surrender or withdrawal request is accepted by an authorized agent. The amount you receive may be more or less than the amount you invested.
Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable, for more information about transfers as well as surrenders and withdrawals.
Information Sharing Agreements
As required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds or certain of their service providers will enter into information sharing agreements with selling agents, including participating life insurance companies and selling agents that sponsor or offer retirement plans through which shares of the Funds are made available for purchase. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2, selling agents are required, upon request, to: (i) provide shareholder account and transaction information; and (ii) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases of Fund shares by shareholders who have been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions that violate the Fund's excessive trading policies and procedures.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Non-Money Market Funds
Right to Reject or Restrict Share Transaction Orders The Fund is intended for investors with long-term investment purposes and is not intended as a vehicle for frequent trading activity (market timing) that is excessive. Investors should transact in Fund shares primarily for investment purposes. The Board has adopted excessive trading policies and procedures that are designed to deter excessive trading by investors (the Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures). The Fund discourages and does not accommodate excessive trading.
The Fund reserves the right to reject, without any prior notice, any buy or transfer order for any reason, and will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected orders. For example, the Fund may in its sole discretion restrict or reject a buy or transfer order even if the transaction is not subject to the specific limitation described below if the Fund or its agents determine that accepting the order could interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or is otherwise contrary to the Fund's best interests. The Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures apply equally to buy or transfer transactions communicated directly to the Transfer Agent and to those received by selling agents.
Specific Buying and Transferring Limitations — If a Fund detects that an investor has made two “material round trips” in any 28-day period, it will generally reject the investor's future purchase orders, including transfer buy orders, involving any Fund.
For these purposes, a “round trip” is a purchase or transfer into the Fund followed by a sale or transfer out of the Fund, or a sale or transfer out of the Fund followed by a purchase or transfer into the Fund. A “material” round trip is one that is deemed by the Fund to be material in terms of its amount or its potential detrimental impact on the Fund. Independent of this limit, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reject future buy orders by any person, group or account that appears to have engaged in any type of excessive trading activity.
These limits generally do not apply to automated transactions or transactions by registered investment companies in a “fund-of-funds” structure. These limits do not apply to payroll deduction contributions by retirement plan participants, transactions initiated by a retirement plan sponsor or certain other retirement plan transactions consisting of rollover transactions, loan repayments and disbursements, and required minimum distribution redemptions. They may be modified or rescinded for accounts held by certain retirement plans to conform to plan limits, for considerations relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or regulations of the Department of Labor, and for certain asset allocation or wrap programs. Accounts known to be under common ownership or control generally will be counted together, but accounts maintained or
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
managed by a common intermediary generally will not be considered to be under common ownership or control. The Fund retains the right to modify these restrictions at any time without prior notice to shareholders. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, reinstate trading privileges that have been revoked under the Fund's Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.
Limitations on the Ability to Detect and Prevent Excessive Trading Practices The Fund takes various steps designed to detect and prevent excessive trading, including daily review of available shareholder transaction information. However, the Fund receives buy, sell or transfer orders through selling agents, and cannot always know of or reasonably detect excessive trading that may be facilitated by selling agents or by the use of the omnibus account arrangements they offer. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of mutual funds, particularly among certain selling agents such as broker-dealers, retirement plans and variable insurance products. These arrangements often permit selling agents to aggregate their clients' transactions and accounts, and in these circumstances, the identity of the shareholders is often not known to the Fund.
Some selling agents apply their own restrictions or policies to underlying investor accounts, which may be more or less restrictive than those described here. This may impact the Fund's ability to curtail excessive trading, even where it is identified. For these and other reasons, it is possible that excessive trading may occur despite the Fund's efforts to detect and prevent it.
Although these restrictions and policies involve judgments that are inherently subjective and may involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders in making any such judgments.
Risks of Excessive Trading — Excessive trading creates certain risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and may create the following adverse effects:
negative impact on the Fund's performance;
potential dilution of the value of the Fund's shares;
interference with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio, such as the need to maintain undesirably large cash positions, the need to use its line of credit or the need to buy or sell securities it otherwise would not have bought or sold;
losses on the sale of investments resulting from the need to sell securities at less favorable prices; and
increased brokerage and administrative costs.
To the extent that the Fund invests significantly in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the Fund's valuation time, it may be particularly susceptible to dilution as a result of excessive trading. Because events may occur after the close of foreign markets and before the Fund's valuation time that influence the value of foreign securities, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of foreign securities as of the Fund's valuation time. This is often referred to as price arbitrage. The Fund has adopted procedures designed to adjust closing market prices of foreign securities under certain circumstances to reflect what the Fund believes to be the fair value of those securities as of its valuation time. To the extent the adjustments don't work fully, investors engaging in price arbitrage may cause dilution in the value of the Fund's shares held by other shareholders.
Similarly, to the extent that the Fund invests significantly in thinly traded high-yield bonds (junk bonds) or equity securities of small-capitalization companies, because these securities are often traded infrequently, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities. This is also a type of price arbitrage. Any such frequent trading strategies may interfere with efficient management of the Fund's portfolio to a greater degree than would be the case for mutual funds that invest in highly liquid securities, in part because the Fund may have difficulty selling those portfolio securities at advantageous times or prices to satisfy large and/or frequent sell orders. Any successful price arbitrage may also cause dilution in the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
Excessive Trading Practices Policy of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund
A money market fund is designed to offer investors a liquid cash option that they may buy and sell as often as they wish. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares. However, since frequent purchases and sales of Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund shares could in certain instances harm shareholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term shareholders by increasing costs (such as spreads paid to dealers who trade money market instruments with Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund) and disrupting portfolio management strategies, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right, but has no obligation, to reject any purchase or transfer
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
About Fund Shares and Transactions (continued)
transaction at any time. Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund has no limits on purchase or transfer transactions. In addition, Columbia Variable Portfolio - Cash Management Fund reserves the right to impose or modify restrictions on purchases, transfers or trading of Fund shares at any time.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions to Shareholders
A mutual fund can make money two ways:
It can earn income on its investments. Examples of fund income are interest paid on money market instruments and bonds, and dividends paid on common stocks.
A mutual fund can also have capital gains if the value of its investments increases. While a fund continues to hold an investment, any gain is generally unrealized. If the fund sells an investment, it generally will realize a capital gain if it sells that investment for a higher price than its adjusted cost basis, and will generally realize a capital loss if it sells that investment for a lower price than its adjusted cost basis. Capital gains and losses are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund holds the securities for one year or less (short-term) or more than one year (long-term).
FUNDamentals
Distributions
Mutual funds make payments of fund earnings to shareholders, distributing them among all shareholders of the fund. As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's distributed income, including capital gains. Reinvesting your distributions buys you more shares of a fund which lets you take advantage of the potential for compound growth. Putting the money you earn back into your investment means it, in turn, may earn even more money. Over time, the power of compounding has the potential to significantly increase the value of your investment. There is no assurance, however, that you'll earn more money if you reinvest your distributions rather than receive them in cash.
The Fund intends to pay out, in the form of distributions to shareholders, a sufficient amount of its income and gains so that the Fund will qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and generally will not have to pay any federal excise tax. The Fund generally intends to distribute any net realized capital gain (whether long-term or short-term gain) at least once a year. Normally, the Fund will declare and pay distributions of net investment income according to the following schedule:
    
Declaration and Distribution Schedule
Declarations Annually
Distributions Annually
The Fund may, however, declare or pay distributions of net investment income more frequently.
Different share classes of the Fund usually pay different net investment income distribution amounts, because each class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.
The Fund will automatically reinvest distributions in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund unless you inform us you want to receive your distributions to be paid in cash.
Taxes and Your Investment
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company generally is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to you.
Shares of the Fund are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies, Qualified Plans, and certain other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of the Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of participating insurance companies to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You should consult with the participating insurance company that issued your Contract, plan sponsor, or other eligible investor through which your investment in the Fund is made regarding the U.S. federal income taxation of your investment.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Distributions and Taxes (continued)
For Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Policies: Your Contract may qualify for favorable tax treatment. As long as your Contract continues to qualify for favorable tax treatment, you will only be taxed on your investment in the Fund through such Contract, even if the Fund makes distributions and/or you change your investment options under the Contract. In order to qualify for such treatment, among other things, the separate accounts of participating insurance companies, which maintain and invest net proceeds from Contracts, must be “adequately diversified.” The Fund intends to operate in such a manner so that a separate account investing only in Fund shares on behalf of a holder of a Contract will be “adequately diversified.” If the Fund does not meet such requirements because its investments are not adequately diversified, your Contract could lose its favorable tax treatment and income and gain allocable to your Contract could be taxable currently to you. This could also occur if Contract holders are found to have an impermissible level of control over the investments underlying their Contracts.
FUNDamentals
Taxes
The information provided above is only a summary of how U.S. federal income taxes may affect your investment in the Fund. It is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. It does not apply to certain types of investors who may be subject to special rules, including foreign or tax-exempt investors or those holding Fund shares through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA. Please see the SAI for more detailed tax information. You should consult with your own tax advisor about the particular tax consequences to you of an investment in the Fund, including the effect of any foreign, state and local taxes, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.
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Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the Fund’s period of operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions had been reinvested. Total returns do not reflect any fees and expenses imposed under your Contract and/or Qualified Plan, as applicable; such fees and expenses would reduce the total returns for all periods shown. Per share net investment income (loss) amounts are calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. The information for the two most recent fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. The information for prior fiscal years has been derived from the financial statements audited by the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm.
    
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 1 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $20.87 $19.50 $20.69 $17.91 $11.03
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.07) (0.05) (0.05) (0.10) (0.19)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.42 1.46 (1.14) 2.88 7.07
Total from investment operations 5.35 1.41 (1.19) 2.78 6.88
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net realized gains (0.21) (0.04)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.21) (0.04)
Net asset value, end of period $26.01 $20.87 $19.50 $20.69 $17.91
Total return 25.83% 7.23% (5.75%) 15.52% 62.38%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.23% 1.21% 1.36% 2.84% 3.86%
Total net expenses (b) 1.00% 1.00% 0.99% 1.30% 1.90%
Net investment loss (0.31%) (0.25%) (0.23%) (0.57%) (1.38%)
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $26,513 $23,922 $25,223 $4,053 $4,022
Portfolio turnover 93% 96% 99% 96% 153%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
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Financial Highlights (continued)
  Year Ended December 31,
Class 2 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Per share data          
Net asset value, beginning of period $20.37 $19.07 $20.30 $17.64 $10.88
Income from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.13) (0.10) (0.10) (0.16) (0.23)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 5.28 1.44 (1.13) 2.82 6.99
Total from investment operations 5.15 1.34 (1.23) 2.66 6.76
Less distributions to shareholders:          
Net realized gains (0.21) (0.04)
Total distributions to shareholders (0.21) (0.04)
Net asset value, end of period $25.31 $20.37 $19.07 $20.30 $17.64
Total return 25.48% 7.03% (6.06%) 15.08% 62.13%
Ratios to average net assets (a)          
Total gross expenses 1.48% 1.46% 1.59% 3.03% 3.79%
Total net expenses (b) 1.25% 1.25% 1.24% 1.62% 2.15%
Net investment loss (0.56%) (0.48%) (0.48%) (0.91%) (1.60%)
Supplemental data          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $82,873 $68,824 $53,098 $1,883 $2,370
Portfolio turnover 93% 96% 99% 96% 153%
  
Notes to Financial Highlights
(a) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the reported expense ratios.
(b) Total net expenses include the impact of certain waivers/reimbursements made by the Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates, if applicable.
Prospectus 2014 27

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For More Information
The Fund is generally available only to owners of Contracts issued by participating insurance companies and participants in Qualified Plans. Please refer to your Contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents for information about how to buy, sell and transfer shares of the Fund.
Additional Information About the Fund
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI also provides additional information about the Fund and its policies. The SAI, which has been filed with the SEC, is legally part of this prospectus (incorporated by reference). To obtain these documents free of charge, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries, please contact the Fund as follows:
By Mail:   Columbia Funds
c/o Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.
P.O. Box 8081
Boston, MA 02266-8081
By Telephone: 800.345.6611
The Fund’s offering documents and shareholder reports are not available on the Columbia Funds’ website because they are generally available only through participating insurance companies or retirement plans.
The website references in this prospectus are intended to be inactive textual references and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the referenced websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Information Provided by the SEC
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including this prospectus, the SAI and shareholder reports) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about the operation of the Public Reference Room, call the SEC at 202.551.8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
The investment company registration number of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, of which the Fund is a series, is 811-22127.
© 2014 Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.
225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
800.345.6611
SL-9916-99 F (5/14)


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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

May 1, 2014

 

Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21 st Century Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund: Class 1 (a) , Class 2 (a) & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund*: single class of shares

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund: Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio: Class 2 & Class 4

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio: Class 2 & Class 4

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio: Class 2 & Class 4

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio: Class 2 & Class 4

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio: Class 2 & Class 4

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund: Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund: Class 1 & Class 2

 

 

* This Fund is closed to new investors.
(a)  

This share class will be available effective June 25, 2014.

Each fund may offer shares to separate accounts (Accounts) funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (Contracts) issued by affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies as well as qualified pension and retirement


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plans (Qualified Plans) and other qualified institutional investors authorized by the Funds’ distributor (the “Distributor”). There are no exchange ticker symbols associated with shares of the funds.

This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus, is not a substitute for reading any prospectus and is intended to be read in conjunction with a Fund’s current prospectus (as amended or supplemented), the date of which may be found in the section of this SAI entitled About the Trust . The most recent annual report for each Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements for its most recent fiscal period, is incorporated by reference into this SAI.

Copies of the Funds’ current prospectuses and annual and semiannual reports may be obtained without charge by writing Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., P.O. Box 8081, Boston, MA 02266-8081, by calling Columbia Funds at 800.345.6611, by contacting the applicable Participating Insurance Company or sponsor of a qualified pension or retirement plan (Qualified Plan), or by contacting the broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries offering certain variable annuity contracts (VA contracts) or variable life insurance policies (VLI policies) issued by the Participating Insurance Company through which shares of the Funds are available.


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SAI PRIMER

    p. 3   

ABOUT THE TRUSTS

    p. 9   

FUNDAMENTAL AND NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

    p. 12   

ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS

    p. 18   

Types of Investments

    p. 19   

Information Regarding Risks

    p. 54   

Borrowings

    p. 69   

Lending of Portfolio Securities

    p. 69   

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES

    p. 70   

The Investment Manager and Subadvisers

    p. 70   

The Administrator

    p. 119   

The Distributor

    p. 122   

Distribution and Servicing Plans

    p. 122   

Other Services Provided

    p. 123   

Expense Limitations

    p. 125   

Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest

    p. 126   

Codes of Ethics

    p. 130   

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

    p. 130   

Organization and Management of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries

    p. 133   

FUND GOVERNANCE

    p. 135   

Board of Trustees and Officers

    p. 135   

Beneficial Equity Ownership

    p. 144   

Compensation

    p. 144   

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND RELATED PRACTICES

    p. 148   

General Brokerage Policy, Brokerage Transactions and Broker Selection

    p. 148   

Brokerage Commissions

    p. 150   

Directed Brokerage

    p. 152   

Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers

    p. 154   

OTHER PRACTICES

    p. 159   

Performance Disclosure

    p. 159   

Portfolio Turnover

    p. 159   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information

    p. 159   

Additional Shareholder Servicing Payments

 

Additional Selling Agent Payments

    P.163   

CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

    p. 165   

Description of the Trusts’ Shares

    p. 165   

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

    p. 168   

Purchase and Redemption

    p. 168   

Offering Price

    p. 169   

TAXATION

    p. 171   

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

    p. 180   

INFORMATION REGARDING PENDING AND SETTLED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    p. 221   

Appendix A: Description of Ratings

    A-1   

Appendix B: Additional Information About S&P 500 Index

    B-1   

Appendix C: Proxy Voting Guidelines

    C-1   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 2   


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SAI PRIMER

The SAI is a part of the Funds’ registration statement that is filed with the SEC. The registration statement includes the Funds’ prospectuses, the SAI and certain exhibits. The SAI, and any supplements to it, can be found online by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

For purposes of any electronic version of this SAI, all references to websites, or universal resource locators (URLs), are intended to be inactive and are not meant to incorporate the contents of any websites into this SAI.

The SAI generally provides additional information about the Funds that is not required to be in the Funds’ prospectuses. The SAI expands discussions of certain matters described in the Funds’ prospectuses and provides certain additional information about the Funds that may be of interest to some investors. Among other things, the SAI provides information about:

 

   

the organization of each Trust;

 

   

the Funds’ investments;

 

   

the Funds’ investment adviser, investment subadviser(s) (if any) and other service providers, including roles and relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and conflicts of interest;

 

   

the governance of the Funds;

 

   

the Funds’ brokerage practices;

 

   

the share classes offered by the Funds;

 

   

the purchase, redemption and pricing of Fund shares; and

 

   

the application of U.S. federal income tax laws.

Investors may find this information important and helpful. If you have any questions about the Funds, please call Columbia Funds at 800.345.6611 or contact your financial advisor.

Before reading the SAI, you should consult the Glossary below, which defines certain of the terms used in the SAI.

Glossary

 

1933 Act

   Securities Act of 1933, as amended

1934 Act

   Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

1940 Act

   Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended

Administrative Services Agreement

   The administrative services agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Administrator

Administrator

   Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

American Century

   American Century Investment Management, Inc.

Ameriprise Financial

   Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

BANA

   Bank of America, National Association

Bank of America

   Bank of America Corporation

BFDS/DST

   Boston Financial Data Services, Inc./DST Systems, Inc.

BHMS

   Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss

Black Rock

   BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

Board

   The Trusts’ Board of Trustees

Board Services

   Board Services Corporation

Business Day

   Any day on which the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for business

CEA

   Commodity Exchange Act

CFTC

   The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a U.S. Government agency

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 3   


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CFVITI

   Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I

CFVSTII

   Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

CMOs

   Collateralized mortgage obligations

Code

   Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

Codes of Ethics

   The codes of ethics adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act

Columbia Funds Complex

   The fund complex that is comprised of the registered investment companies advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates

Columbia Funds or Columbia Fund Family

   The open-end investment management companies, including the Funds, advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates

Columbia Management

   Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

Columbia WAM

   Columbia Wanger Asset Management LLC

Custodian

   JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Denver

   Denver Investment Advisers LLC

DFA

   Dimensional Fund Advisers L.P.

Distribution Agreement

   The distribution agreement between a Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Distributor

Distribution Plan(s)

   One or more of the plans adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the distribution of the Funds’ shares

Distributor

   Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

Donald Smith

   Donald Smith & Co. Inc.

Eaton Vance

   Eaton Vance Management

FDIC

   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FHLMC

   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

Fitch

   Fitch, Inc.

FNMA

   Federal National Mortgage Association

GNMA

   Government National Mortgage Association

Holland

   Holland Capital Management LLC

Independent Trustee(s)

   One or more of the Trustee(s) of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds

Interested Trustee(s)

   A Trustee of the Board who is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds

Invesco

   Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Investment Management Services Agreement

   The investment management services agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Investment Manager

Investment Manager

   Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement

   The investment subadvisory agreement between the Investment Manager and a Fund’s subadviser, as the context may require

IRS

   United States Internal Revenue Service

Jennison

   Jennison Associates LLC

JPMIM

   J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 4   


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JPMorgan

   JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Legacy Columbia Funds

   The series of Columbia Variable Insurance Trust I, with are listed in Appendix D hereto

Legacy Nations Funds or Nations Funds

   The funds within the Columbia Fund Complex that historically bore the Nations brand and includes series under Columbia Variable Insurance Trust I

Legacy RiverSource Funds or RiverSource Funds

   The series of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, which are listed in Appendix E hereto

Legacy Seligman Funds of Seligman Funds

   The funds within the Columbia Fund Complex that historically bore the Seligman brand and includes series under Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

LIBOR

   London Interbank Offered Rate

Loomis Sayles

   Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

Marsico Capital

   Marsico Capital Management, LLC

MFS

   Massachusetts Financial Services

Mondrian

   Mondrian Investment Partners Limited

Moody’s

   Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

MSIM

   Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc.

NASDAQ

   National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations system

NAV

   Net Asset Value of a Fund

NFJ

   NFJ Investment Group LLC

NRSRO

   Nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (such as Moody’s, Fitch or S&P)

NSCC

   National Securities Clearing Corporation

NYSE

   New York Stock Exchange

Palisade

   Palisade Capital Management, LLC

Participating Insurance Companies

   Life insurance companies that issue the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through separate accounts for which the Funds serve as underlying investment vehicles

Previous Administrator

   Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, the administrator of the series of the Trust prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.

Previous Adviser

   Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, the investment adviser of the series of the Trust prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.

Previous Distributor

   Columbia Management Distributors, Inc., the distributor of the series of the Trust prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.

Previous Transfer Agent

   Columbia Management Services, Inc., the transfer agent of the series of the Trust prior to May 1, 2010 when Ameriprise Financial acquired the long-term asset management business of the Previous Adviser, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America.

Pyramis

   Pyramis Global Advisers, LLC

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 5   


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REIT

   Real estate investment trust

REMIC

   Real estate mortgage investment conduit

Retirement Plan

   A qualified plan or retirement arrangement or account through which shares of a Fund are made available.

RIC

   A “regulated investment company,” as such term is used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

River Road

   River Road Asset Management LLC

S&P

   Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“Standard & Poor’s” and “S&P” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Investment Manager. The Columbia Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s and Standard & Poor’s makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Columbia Funds).

SAI

   This Statement of Additional Information

SEC

   United States Securities and Exchange Commission

Selling Agent(s)

   Participating Insurance Companies, Retirement Plan sponsors, banks, broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.

Shares

   Shares of a Fund

Sit Investment

   Sit Investment Associates, Inc.

State Street

   State Street Bank and Trust Company

Subsidiary

   A wholly-owned subsidiary of a Fund

TCW

   TCW Investment Management Company

The Fund(s) or a Fund

   One or more of the open-end management investment companies listed on the front cover of this SAI

The Portfolio(s) or a Portfolio

   One or more of the open-end management investment companies listed on the front cover of this SAI that are series of the Trusts

The Trusts

   Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I and Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, the registered investment companies in the Columbia Fund Family to which this SAI relates

Threadneedle

   Threadneedle International Limited

TLC

   The London Company

Transfer Agency Agreement

   The transfer agency and dividend disbursing agent agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.

Transfer Agent

   Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.

Treasury Regulations

   Regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury Department

Trustee(s)

   One or more of the Board’s Trustees

Turner

   Turner Investments, L.P.

Victory Capital

   Victory Capital Management Inc.

WellsCap

   Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Winslow Capital

   Winslow Capital Management, LLC

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 6   


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Throughout this SAI, the Funds are referred to as follows:

 

Fund Name:    Referred to as:

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

   VP – Balanced Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

   VP – Cash Management Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

   VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund

   VP – Core Equity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

   VP – Diversified Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

   VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

   VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

   VP – Emerging Markets Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

   VP – Global Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

   VP – High Yield Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

   VP – Income Opportunities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

   VP – International Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

   VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

   VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

   VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

   VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

   VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

   VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund

   VP – Marsico Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

   VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

   VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

   VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

   VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

   VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

   VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund

   VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

   VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

   VP – Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

   VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

  

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected
Securities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

   VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

   VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

   VP – Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund

   VP – DFA International Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

   VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

   VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund

   VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

   VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

   VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

   VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund

   VP – MFS Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

   VP – Moderate Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

   VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

   VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

   VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

   VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

   VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

   VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

   VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

   VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund

   VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 7   


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Fund Name:    Referred to as:

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

   VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

   VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund

   VP – Victory Established Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

   VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 8   


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ABOUT THE TRUSTS

The Trusts are open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act with headquarters at 901 S. Marquette Ave., Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402-3268. CFVITI was organized as a Delaware business trust, a form of entity now known as a statutory trust, on November 24, 1997. On May 1, 2006, CFVITI changed its name from Nations Separate Account Trust to Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I and prior to May 1, 2001 was known as Nations Annuity Trust. CFVSTII was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on September 11, 2007. CFVSTII was formerly named RiverSource Variable Series Trust, and was renamed Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II as of April 25, 2011. The offering of the shares is registered under the 1933 Act. The table below identifies the date the Fund (or its predecessor) began operations, whether the Fund is diversified or non-diversified and investment category of each Funds, which are series of the Trusts. Each Fund has a fiscal year end of December 31. Each Fund’s prospectus is dated May 1, 2014.

 

Fund   Date Began Operations   Diversified (a)   Investment Category

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Equity

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Balanced Fund

  September 11, 2007   Yes   Flexible

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

  September 13, 2004   No   Fixed Income

VP – Cash Management Fund

  October 31, 1981   Yes   Money Market

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Commodity Strategy

  April 30, 2013   Yes   Equity

VP – Conservative Portfolio

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Fixed Income

VP – Core Equity Fund

  September 10, 2004   Yes   Equity

VP – DFA International Value Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

  October 13, 1981   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  September 15, 1999   Yes   Equity

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

  April 30, 2012   No   Fixed Income

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  May 1, 2000   Yes   Equity

VP – Global Bond Fund

  May 1, 1996   No   Fixed Income

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

  May 1, 1996   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

  May 1, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  June 1, 2004   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – International Opportunity Fund

  January 13, 1992   Yes   Equity

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  September 15, 1999   Yes   Equity

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  October 13, 1981   Yes   Equity

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  April 19, 2012   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Equity

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  March 27, 1998   Yes   Equity

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  March 27, 1998   No   Equity

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  March 27, 1998   Yes   Equity

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  March 27, 1998   Yes   Equity

VP – MFS Value Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  May 1, 2001   Yes   Equity

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

  May 2, 2005   Yes   Equity

VP – Moderate Portfolio

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Equity

 

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Fund   Date Began Operations   Diversified (a)   Investment Category

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Equity

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fund-of-funds – Fixed Income

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes (b)   Equity

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

  August 14, 2001   Yes   Equity

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Equity

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

  May 1, 2000   Yes   Equity

VP – Select Large-Cap Value

  February 4, 2004   Yes   Equity

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  September 15, 1999   Yes   Equity

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  May 1, 1996   Yes   Equity

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

  May 1, 2006   Yes   Equity

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

  September 15, 1999   Yes   Fixed Income

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

  February 4, 2004   Yes   Equity

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

  May 7, 2010   Yes   Fixed Income

 

(a) If a non-diversified fund is managed as if it were a diversified fund for a period of three years, its status under the 1940 Act will convert automatically from non-diversified to diversified. A diversified fund may convert to non-diversified status only with shareholder approval.

 

(b) Effective May 8, 2013, the Fund is reclassified as a diversified fund.

Name Changes. The table below identifies the Funds whose names have changed in the past five years, the effective date of the name change, and the former name.

Fund   Effective Date of Name Change   Previous Fund Name

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

  May 1, 2012   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Inflation Protected Securities Fund

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  June 29, 2012   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Equity Income Fund

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  August 28, 2012   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Opportunity Fund

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  May 2, 2011   Threadneedle Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

  March 25, 2013   Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  May 2, 2011   Seligman Variable Portfolio – Growth Fund
  May 1, 2009   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Growth Fund

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  August 28, 2012   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dynamic Equity Fund
  May 1, 2009   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Equity Fund

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  May 2, 2011   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Bond Fund

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

  March 21, 2014   Variable Portfolio – American Century Growth Fund

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  April 29, 2013   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Fund

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  May 2, 2011   Columbia Marsico 21 st Century Fund, Variable Series

 

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Fund   Effective Date of Name Change   Previous Fund Name

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  May 2, 2011   Columbia Marsico Focused Equities Fund, Variable Series

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  May 2, 2011   Columbia Marsico Growth Fund, Variable Series

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  May 2, 2011   Columbia Marsico International Opportunities Fund, Variable Series

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  May 2, 2011   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Fund

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

  May 2, 2011   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Fund

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

  May 1, 2010   RiverSource Partners Variable Portfolio – Small Cap Value Fund

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

  May 2, 2011   Seligman Variable Portfolio – Larger Cap Value Fund
  May 1, 2009   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Value Fund

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  May 2, 2011   Seligman Variable Portfolio – Smaller Cap Value Fund
  May 1, 2009   RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Small Cap Advantage Fund

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  May 2, 2011   Seligman Global Technology Portfolio

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

  November 16, 2012   Variable Portfolio – Davis New York Venture Fund
  May 1, 2010   RiverSource Partners Variable Portfolio – Fundamental Value Fund

VP – TWC Core Plus Bond Fund

  March 21, 2014   Variable Portfolio – PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

  May 1, 2013   Columbia Variable Portfolio – Short Duration U.S. Government Fund

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

  November 16, 2012   Variable Portfolio – Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
  May 1, 2010   RiverSource Partners Variable Portfolio – Select Value Fund

 

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FUNDAMENTAL AND NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

The following discussion of “fundamental” and “non-fundamental” investment policies and limitations for each Fund supplements the discussion of investment policies in the Funds’ prospectuses. A fundamental policy may be changed only with Board and shareholder approval. A non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board and does not require shareholder approval, but may require notice to shareholders in certain instances.

Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of a Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding an investment standard, compliance with such percentage limitation or standard will be determined solely at the time of the Fund’s acquisition of such security or asset.

Notwithstanding any of a Fund’s other investment policies, each Fund, subject to certain limitations, may invest its assets in another investment company. These underlying funds have adopted their own investment policies that may be more or less restrictive than those of the Fund. The policies of the underlying funds may permit a Fund to engage in investment strategies indirectly that would otherwise be prohibited under the Fund’s investment policies. In adhering to the fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions and policies applicable to VP – Commodity Strategy Fund, the Fund will treat any assets of its subsidiary generally as if the assets were held directly by the Fund.

Fundamental Policies

Fundamental policies are policies that can be changed only with shareholder approval.

The chart below shows fund-specific policies that may be changed only with shareholder approval. The chart indicates whether or not the fund has a policy on a particular topic. A dash indicates that the fund does not have a policy on a particular topic. The specific policy is stated in the paragraphs that follow the table.

Fundamental Policies

 

Fund  

A

Buy or

sell real

estate

 

B

Buy or sell

commodities

 

C

Buy more

than 10% of

an issuer

 

D

Buy more

than 5% of

an issuer

 

E

Lending

 

F

Act as an

underwriter

 

G

Borrow

money

 

H

Issue

Senior

Securities

 

I

Concentration

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Balanced Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

  A1   B1       E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Cash Management Fund

  A2   A2   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1  

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

  A1   B6   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I5

VP – Conservative Portfolio

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Core Equity Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – DFA International Value Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Emerging Markets

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

  A1   B5       E1   F1   G1   H1   I3

VP – Global Bond Fund

  A1   B1   C1     E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

 

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Table of Contents
Fund  

A

Buy or

sell real

estate

 

B

Buy or sell

commodities

 

C

Buy more

than 10% of

an issuer

 

D

Buy more

than 5% of

an issuer

 

E

Lending

 

F

Act as an

underwriter

 

G

Borrow

money

 

H

Issue

Senior

Securities

 

I

Concentration

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – International Opportunity Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  A1   B1   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I6

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  A4   B7   C4   C4   E3   F3   G3   G3   I7

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  A4   B7       E3   F3   G3   G3   I7

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  A4   B7   C4   C4   E3   F3   G3   G3   I7

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  A4   B7   C4   C4   E3   F3   G3   G3   I7

VP – MFS Value Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Moderate Portfolio

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund*

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I4

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

  A1   B2   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

  A1   B2   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  A3   B3   C2   C2   E2   F2   G2   G2   I2

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

  A1   B2   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

  A1   B1   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

  A1   B2   C1   D1   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

  A1   B4   C3   C3   E1   F1   G1   H1   I1

 

* Effective May 8, 2013, the fund is reclassified as a diversified fund.

 

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Table of Contents
A.   Buy or sell real estate
  A1 –   The fund will not buy or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or real estate investment trusts. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.
  A2 –   The fund will not buy or sell real estate, commodities or commodity contracts. For purposes of this policy, real estate includes real estate limited partnerships.
  A3 –   The fund will not purchase or hold any real estate, except the fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by persons (including real estate investment trusts) which deal in real estate or interests therein.
  A4 –   The fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except a Fund may purchase securities of issuers which deal or invest in real estate and may purchase securities which are secured by real estate or interests in real estate.
B.   Buy or sell physical commodities
  B1 –   The fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the fund from buying or selling options and futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
  B2 –   The fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
  B3 –   The fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except to the extent permissible under applicable law and interpretations, as they may be amended from time to time.
  B4 –   The fund will not buy or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the fund from buying or selling options, futures contracts and foreign currency or from entering into forward currency contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, physical commodities.
  B5 –   The fund will not buy or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except this shall not prevent the fund from transacting in derivative instruments relating to commodities, including but not limited to, buying or selling options, swap contracts or futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by, or whose value is derived from, commodities.
  B6 –   The fund will not buy or sell commodities, except that the Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective(s), invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and enter into swap contracts and other financial transactions relating to commodities. This restriction does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts. This restriction also does not prevent the Fund from investing up to 25% of its total assets in one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries (as described further herein and referred to herein collectively as the “Subsidiary”), thereby gaining exposure to the investment returns of commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements.*
  B7 –   The fund will not purchase or sell commodities, except that a Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment objective, invest in securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or which invest in such programs, and purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts. This limitation does not apply to foreign currency transactions including without limitation forward currency contracts.
 

*   For purposes of the fundamental investment policy on buying and selling physical commodities, the Funds will not consider swap contracts on financial instruments or rates to be commodities for purposes of this restriction despite any federal legislation or regulatory action by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) that subjects such swaps to regulation by the CFTC.

C.   Buy more than 10% of an issuer
  C1 –   The fund will not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, except that up to 25% of the fund’s assets may be invested without regard to this 10% limitation.
  C2 –   The fund will not make any investment inconsistent with the fund’s classification as a diversified company under the 1940 Act.

 

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Table of Contents
  C3 –   The fund will not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (a) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations and (b) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief.
  C4 –   The Fund will not purchase securities (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of such issuer or it would own more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, except that: (i) up to 25% of its total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations; and (ii) a Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable exemptive relief obtained by the Funds.
D.   Invest more than 5% in an issuer
  D1 –   The fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any company, government, or political subdivision thereof, except the limitation will not apply to investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or other investment companies, and except that up to 25% of the fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to this 5% limitation.
E.   Lending
  E1 –   The fund will not lend securities or participate in an interfund lending program if the total of all such loans would exceed 33 1/3% of the fund’s total assets, except this fundamental investment policy shall not prohibit the fund from purchasing money market securities, loans, loan participation or other debt securities, or from entering into repurchase agreements.
  E2 –   The fund will not make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
  E3 –  

The Fund will not make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

F.   Act as an underwriter
  F1 –   The fund will not act as an underwriter (sell securities for others). However, under the securities laws, the fund may be deemed to be an underwriter when it purchases securities directly from the issuer and later resells them.
  F2 –   The fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except insofar as the fund may be deemed an underwriter under the 1933 Act in disposing of a portfolio securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
  F3 –  

The Fund will not underwrite any issue of securities issued by other persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act except when it might be deemed to be an underwriter either: (i) in connection with the disposition of a portfolio security; or (ii) in connection with the purchase of securities directly from the issuer thereof in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective. This restriction shall not limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities issued by other registered investment companies.

G.   Borrow Money
  G1 –   The fund will not borrow money, except for temporary purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) immediately after the borrowings.
  G2 –   The fund will not issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any SEC or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exceptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC. For borrowing, the 1940 Act permits a fund to borrow up to 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amounts borrowed) from banks, plus an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, which may be borrowed from banks or other sources.
  G3 –   The Fund will not borrow money or issue senior securities except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
H.   Issue senior securities
  H1 –   The fund will not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

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Table of Contents
I.   Concentration*
  I1 –   The fund will not concentrate in any one industry. According to the present interpretation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this means that up to 25% of the fund’s total assets, based on current market value at time of purchase, can be invested in any one industry.
  I2 –   The Fund will, under normal market conditions, invest at least 25% of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase in the securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the technology and related group of industries, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies or subsidiaries to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
  I3 –   While the fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country, it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any single foreign governmental issuer.
  I4 –   The fund will not invest more than 25% of the market value of its total assets in the securities of issuers in any particular industry, except the fund will invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers principally engaged in the real estate industry and may invest without limit in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
  I5 –   The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of corporate issuers engaged in any one industry. The foregoing restriction does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or repurchase agreements secured by them. In addition, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to or limit the Fund’s counterparties in commodities-related transactions.
  I6 –   The Fund will not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
  I7 –   The Fund will not purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that: (i) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, any state or territory of the United States or any of their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and (ii) notwithstanding this limitation or any other fundamental investment limitation, assets may be invested in the securities of one or more management investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief obtained by the Funds.
 

*   For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in the concentration policies, above, the fund will generally use the industry classifications provided by the Global Industry Classification System.

In addition to the policies described above and any fundamental policy described in the prospectus:

Additionally for VP – Cash Management Fund, the fund will not:

 

   

Buy on margin or sell short or deal in options to buy or sell securities.

 

   

Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, other equity securities, corporate bonds or debentures, state bonds, municipal bonds, or industrial revenue bonds.

 

   

Intentionally invest more than 25% of the fund’s assets taken at market value in any particular industry, except with respect to investing in U.S. government or agency securities and bank obligations. Investments are varied according to what is judged advantageous under different economic conditions.

Additionally for VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund, the fund will not:

 

   

Purchase securities on margin except as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder, any Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or SEC staff interpretations thereof or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 16   


Table of Contents

Nonfundamental Policies

Nonfundamental policies are policies that can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. The following nonfundamental policies may be changed by the Board at any time and are in addition to those described in the prospectus.

Investment in Other Investment Companies

The fund may not purchase securities of other investment companies except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. If shares of the fund are purchased by another fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long as shares of the fund are held by such other fund, the fund will not purchase securities of a registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

Names Rule Policy

To the extent a Fund is subject to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (the Names Rule), and does not otherwise have a fundamental investment policy in place to comply with the Names Rule, it has adopted or has the following non-fundamental policy: Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ notice of any change to a Fund’s investment objective or principal investment strategies made in order to comply with the Names Rule. The notice will be provided in Plain English in a separate written document, and will contain the following prominent statement or similar statement in bold-face type: “Important Notice Regarding Change in Investment Policy.” This statement will appear on both the notice and the envelope in which it is delivered, unless it is delivered separately from other communications to investors, in which case the statement will appear either on the notice or the envelope in which the notice is delivered.

Investment in Illiquid Securities

No more than 10% of a money market Fund’s net assets will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. No more than 15% of the net assets of any other Fund will be held in securities and other instruments that are illiquid. “Illiquid Securities” are defined in accordance with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is a security which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the security.

Investment in Foreign Securities

For all funds EXCEPT Fund-of-funds, VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, VP – Cash Management Fund, VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, VP – Commodity Strategy, VP – DFA International Value Fund, VP – Emerging Markets Fund, VP – Global Bond Fund, VP – International Opportunity Fund, VP – Invesco International Growth Fund, VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund, VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund, VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund, VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund and VP – S&P 500 Index Fund:

 

   

Up to 25% of the fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign investments.*

* For VP – Balanced and VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth, the 20% limitation stated in the prospectus is an investment policy.

Additionally, for VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund, VP – Marsico Growth Fund, VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund and VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund:

   

The Fund may invest in futures or options contracts regulated by the CFTC for: (i) bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of the rules of the CFTC; and (ii) for other purposes if, as a result, no more than 5% of a Fund’s net assets would be invested in initial margin and premiums (excluding amounts “in-the-money”) required to establish the contracts.

 

   

The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions, in amounts not to exceed (in the aggregate) one-third of the Fund’s total assets. Any such loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized based on values that are marked to market daily.

 

   

The Fund may not make investments for the purpose of exercising control of management. (Investments by the Fund in entities created under the laws of foreign countries solely to facilitate investment in securities in that country will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control.)

 

   

The Fund may not sell securities short, unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (short sales “against the box”) or the Fund segregates assets in the amount at least equal to the underlying security or asset.

 

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Additionally, for VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund:

   

The Fund may not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Obligations) if, immediately after such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer, and with respect to 50% of such Fund’s total assets, more than 5% of its assets would be invested in the securities of one issuer.

Additionally, for VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund:

   

The fund will not invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs; provided, however, that this investment restriction shall not prohibit the fund from purchasing publicly-traded securities of companies engaging in whole or in part in such activities.

 

   

The fund will not purchase securities from or sell securities to any of its officers or Trustees, except with respect to its own shares and as permissible under applicable statutes, rule ad regulations.

 

   

The fund will not invest more than 5% of the value of its net assets, valued at the lower of cost or market, in warrants, of which no more than 2% of net assets may be invested in warrants and rights not listed on the New York or American Stock Exchange. For this purpose, warrants acquired by the fund in units or attached to securities may be deemed to have been purchased without cost.

ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS

Each Fund’s investment objectives, principal investment strategies and related principal risks are discussed in each Fund’s prospectuses. Each Fund’s prospectus identifies the types of securities in which the Fund invests principally and summarizes the principal risks to the Fund’s portfolio as a whole associated with such investments. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus or this SAI, the investment objective and policies of a Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

To the extent that a type of security identified in the table below for a Fund is not described in the Fund’s prospectus (or as a sub-category of such security type in this SAI), the Fund generally invests in such security type, if at all, as part of its non-principal investment strategies.

Information about individual types of securities (including certain of their associated risks) in which some or all of the Funds may invest is set forth below. Each Fund may invest in these types of securities, subject to its investment objective and fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies. A Fund is not required to invest in any or all of the types of securities listed below.

Funds-of-funds invest in a combination of underlying funds, although they may invest directly in stocks, bonds and other securities. These underlying funds have their own investment strategies and types of investments they are allowed to engage in and purchase. Funds-of-funds may, directly or indirectly, invest through investments in underlying funds, invest in the securities and engage in investment strategies indicated in the table below.

Certain Investment Activity Limits. The overall investment and other activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates may limit the investment opportunities for each Fund in certain markets, industries or transactions or in individual issuers where limitations are imposed upon the aggregate amount of investment by the Funds and other accounts managed by the Investment Manager and accounts of its affiliates (collectively, affiliated investors). From time to time, each Fund’s activities also may be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to the Investment Manager and its affiliates and/or because of their internal policies. See Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest .

Temporary Defensive Positions. Each Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive investment positions that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation investing some or all of its assets in money market instruments or shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or holding some or all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. The Fund may take such defensive investment positions for as long a period as deemed necessary.

Other Strategic and Investment Measures. Unless prohibited by its investment policies, a Fund may also from time to time take temporary portfolio positions that may or may not be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, social or other conditions, including, without limitation, investing in derivatives, such as futures (e.g., index futures) or options on futures, for various purposes, including among others, investing in particular derivatives to achieve indirect investment exposure to a sector, country or region where the Investment Manager (or Fund subadviser, if applicable) believes such defensive positioning is appropriate. Each Fund may do so without limit and for as long a period as deemed necessary, when the Investment Manager or the Fund’s subadviser, if

 

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applicable: (i) believes that market conditions are not favorable for profitable investing or to avoid losses, including under adverse market, economic, political or other conditions; (ii) is unable to locate favorable investment opportunities; or (iii) determines that a temporary defensive position is advisable or necessary in order to meet anticipated redemption requests, or for other reasons. While the Fund is so positioned, derivatives could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Investing in this manner may adversely affect Fund performance. During these times, the portfolio managers may make frequent portfolio holding changes, which could result in increased trading expenses and taxes, and decreased Fund performance.

Types of Investments

A black circle indicates that the investment strategy or type of investment generally is authorized for a category of funds. Exceptions are noted following the table. See About the Trusts for fund investment categories.

 

Type of Investment    Equity
and
Flexible
   Funds-of-Funds  –
Equity
   Taxable
Fixed
Income
   Money Market

Asset-Backed Securities

           

Bank Obligations (Domestic and Foreign)

           

Collateralized Bond Obligations

            —  

Commercial Paper

           

Common Stock

          A        —  

Convertible Securities

    B              —  

Corporate Debt Securities

            C    

Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates

    D             

Debt Obligations

           

Depositary Receipts

          E        —  

Derivatives

            —  

Dollar Rolls

            —  

Foreign Currency Transactions

            —  

Foreign Securities

           

Guaranteed Investment Contracts (Funding Agreements)

            —  

High Yield Securities

            —  

Illiquid Securities

           

Inflation Protected Securities

            —  

Initial Public Offerings

           

Inverse Floaters

    F              —  

Investments in Other Investment Companies (Including ETFs)

           

Money Market Instruments

           

Mortgage-Backed Securities

    G             

Municipal Securities

            —  

Participation Interests

            —  

Partnership Securities

           

Preferred Stock

          H        —  

Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities

           

Real Estate Investment Trusts

            —  

Repurchase Agreements

           

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

           

Short Sales

    I         I         I        —  

Sovereign Debt

           

Standby Commitments

           

 

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Type of Investment    Equity
and
Flexible
   Funds-of-Funds  –
Equity
   Taxable
Fixed
Income
   Money Market

U.S. Government and Related Obligations

           

Variable and Floating Rate Obligations

   J           

 

A. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in Common Stock: U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.

 

B. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in Convertible Securities: Commodity Strategy Fund.

 

C. While the Fund is prohibited from investing in corporate bonds, it may invest in securities classified as corporate bonds if they meet the requirements of Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act.

 

D. The following Funds are not authorized to invest in Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates: each series of CFVITI.

 

E. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in Depository Receipts: U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.

 

F. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in Inverse Floaters: Large Core Quantitative Fund.

 

G. The following Funds are not authorized to invest in Mortgage-Backed Securities: S&P 500 Index Fund and Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund.

 

H. The following Fund is not authorized to invest in Preferred Stock: U.S. Government Mortgage Fund.

 

I. The Funds are not prohibited from engaging in short sales, however, each Fund will seek Board approval prior to utilizing short sales as an active part of its investment strategy.

 

J. The following Fund is authorized to invest in Variable and Floating Rate Obligations: Commodity Strategy.

Asset-Backed Securities

Asset-backed securities represent interests in, or debt instruments that are backed by, pools of various types of assets that generate cash payments generally over fixed periods of time, such as, among others, motor vehicle installment sales, contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, and receivables from revolving (credit card) agreements. Such securities entitle the security holders to receive distributions (i.e., principal and interest) that are tied to the payments made by the borrower on the underlying assets (less fees paid to the originator, servicer, or other parties, and fees paid for credit enhancement), so that the payments made on the underlying assets effectively pass through to such security holders. Asset-backed securities typically are created by an originator of loans or owner of accounts receivable that sells such underlying assets to a special purpose entity in a process called a securitization. The special purpose entity issues securities that are backed by the payments on the underlying assets, and have a minimum denomination and specific term. Asset-backed securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with asset-backed securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

Bank Obligations (Domestic and Foreign)

Bank obligations include certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits and promissory notes that earn a specified rate of return and may be issued by (i) a domestic branch of a domestic bank, (ii) a foreign branch of a domestic bank, (iii) a domestic branch of a foreign bank or (iv) a foreign branch of a foreign bank. Bank obligations may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.

Certificates of deposit, or so-called CDs, typically are interest-bearing debt instruments issued by banks and have maturities ranging from a few weeks to several years. Yankee dollar certificates of deposit are negotiable CDs issued in the United States by branches and agencies of foreign banks. Eurodollar certificates of deposit are CDs issued by foreign banks with interest and principal paid in U.S. dollars. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar CDs typically have maturities of less than two years and have interest rates that typically are pegged to the London Interbank Offered Rate or LIBOR. See Types of Investments — Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar Instruments . Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on and accepted by banks, are a customary means of effecting payment for merchandise sold in import-export transactions and are a general source of financing. A time deposit can be either a savings account or CD that is an obligation of a financial institution for a fixed term. Typically, there are penalties for early withdrawals of time deposits. Promissory notes are written commitments of the maker to pay the payee a specified sum of money either on demand or at a fixed or determinable future date, with or without interest.

Bank investment contracts are issued by banks. Pursuant to such contracts, a Fund may make cash contributions to a deposit fund of a bank. The bank then credits to the Fund payments at floating or fixed interest rates. A Fund also may hold funds on deposit with its custodian for temporary purposes.

 

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Certain bank obligations, such as some CDs, are insured by the FDIC up to certain specified limits. Many other bank obligations, however, are neither guaranteed nor insured by the FDIC or the U.S. Government. These bank obligations are “backed” only by the creditworthiness of the issuing bank or parent financial institution. Domestic and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulation. Accordingly, certain obligations of foreign banks, including Eurodollar and Yankee dollar obligations, involve different and/or heightened investment risks than those affecting obligations of domestic banks, including, among others, the possibilities that: (i) their liquidity could be impaired because of political or economic developments; (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable obligations of domestic banks; (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding and other taxes at high levels on interest income; (iv) foreign deposits may be seized or nationalized; (v) foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be imposed, which could adversely affect the payment of principal and/or interest on those obligations; (vi) there may be less publicly available information concerning foreign banks issuing the obligations; and (vii) the reserve requirements and accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may differ (including, less stringent) from those applicable to domestic banks. Foreign banks generally are not subject to examination by any U.S. Government agency or instrumentality. See Types of Investments — Foreign Securities .

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with bank obligations include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

Collateralized Bond Obligations

Collateralized bond obligations (CBOs) are investment grade bonds backed by a pool of bonds, which may include junk bonds (which are considered speculative investments). CBOs are similar in concept to collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), but differ in that CBOs represent different degrees of credit quality rather than different maturities. (See Types of Investments — Mortgage-Backed Securities and — Asset-Backed Securities .) CBOs are often privately offered and sold, and thus not registered under securities laws.

Underwriters of CBOs package a large and diversified pool of high-risk, high-yield junk bonds, which is then structured into “tranches.” Typically, the first tranche represents a senior claim on collateral and pays the lowest interest rate; the second tranche is junior to the first tranche and therefore subject to greater risk and pays a higher rate; the third tranche is junior to both the first and second tranche, represents the lowest credit quality and instead of receiving a fixed interest rate receives the residual interest payments — money that is left over after the higher tranches have been paid. CBOs, like CMOs, are substantially overcollateralized and this, plus the diversification of the pool backing them, may earn certain of the tranches investment-grade bond ratings. Holders of third-tranche CBOs stand to earn higher or lower yields depending on the rate of defaults in the collateral pool. See Types of Investments — High Yield Securities .

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with CBOs include: Credit Risk, Illiquid Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk, High-Yield Securities Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper is a short-term debt obligation, usually sold on a discount basis, with a maturity ranging from 2 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. It is sold to investors with temporary idle cash as a way to increase returns on a short-term basis. These instruments are generally unsecured, which increases the credit risk associated with this type of investment. See Types of Investments — Debt Obligations and Illiquid Securities . See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with commercial paper include: Credit Risk and Liquidity Risk.

Common Stock

Common stock represents a unit of equity ownership of a corporation. Owners typically are entitled to vote on the selection of directors and other important corporate governance matters, and to receive dividend payments, if any, on their holdings. However, ownership of common stock does not entitle owners to participate in the day-to-day operations of the corporation. Common stocks of domestic and foreign public corporations can be listed, and their shares traded, on domestic stock exchanges, such as the NYSE or the NASDAQ Stock Market. Domestic and foreign corporations also may have their shares traded on foreign exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange or Tokyo Stock Exchange. See Types of Investments — Foreign Securities . Common stock may be privately placed or publicly offered. The price of common stock is generally determined by corporate earnings, type of products or services offered, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and market conditions generally. In the event that a corporation declares bankruptcy or is liquidated, the claims of secured and unsecured creditors and owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock. See Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities — Preferred Stock and — Convertible Securities for more information.

 

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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with common stock include: Issuer Risk and Market Risk.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price (the conversion price). As such, convertible securities combine the investment characteristics of debt securities and equity securities. A holder of convertible securities is entitled to receive the income of a bond, debenture or note or the dividend of a preferred stock until the conversion privilege is exercised. The market value of convertible securities generally is a function of, among other factors, interest rates, the rates of return of similar nonconvertible securities and the financial strength of the issuer. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, conversely, to rise as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security’s market value tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than its conversion price. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the rate of return of the convertible security. Because both interest rate and common stock’s market movements can influence their value, convertible securities generally are not as sensitive to changes in interest rates as similar non-convertible debt securities nor generally as sensitive to changes in share price as the underlying common stock. Convertible securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities, Types of Investments — Common Stock, Types of Investments — Corporate Debt Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Certain convertible securities may have a mandatory conversion feature, pursuant to which the securities convert automatically into common stock or other equity securities (of the same or a different issuer) at a specified date and at a specified exchange ratio. Certain convertible securities may be convertible at the option of the issuer, which may require a holder to convert the security into the underlying common stock, even at times when the value of the underlying common stock or other equity security has declined substantially. In addition, some convertible securities may be rated below investment grade or may not be rated and, therefore, may be considered speculative investments. Companies that issue convertible securities frequently are small- and mid-capitalization companies and, accordingly, carry the risks associated with such companies. In addition, the credit rating of a company’s convertible securities generally is lower than that of its conventional debt securities. Convertible securities are senior to equity securities and have a claim to the assets of an issuer prior to the holders of the issuer’s common stock in the event of liquidation but generally are subordinate to similar non-convertible debt securities of the same issuer. Some convertible securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates when their predetermined conversion price is much higher than the price for the issuing company’s common stock.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with convertible securities include: Convertible Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, and Reinvestment Risk.

Corporate Debt Securities

Corporate debt securities are long and short term fixed income securities typically issued by businesses to finance their operations. Corporate debt securities are issued by public or private companies, as distinct from debt securities issued by a government or its agencies. The issuer of a corporate debt security often has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal periodically or on a specified maturity date. Corporate debt securities typically have four distinguishing features: (1) they are taxable; (2) they have a par value of $1,000; (3) they have a term maturity, which means they come due at a specified time period; and (4) many are traded on major securities exchanges. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their interest rates, maturity dates and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and usually is unsecured, as are debentures. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. The category also includes bank loans, as well as assignments, participations and other interests in bank loans. Corporate debt securities may be rated investment grade or below investment grade and may be structured as fixed-, variable or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. They may also be senior or subordinated obligations. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities — Debt Obligations, Types of Investments — Commercial Paper and — High Yield Securities for more information.

 

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Extendible commercial notes (ECNs) are very similar to commercial paper except that, with ECNs, the issuer has the option to extend the notes’ maturity. ECNs are issued at a discount rate, with an initial redemption of not more than 90 days from the date of issue. If ECNs are not redeemed by the issuer on the initial redemption date, the issuer will pay a premium (step-up) rate based on the ECN’s credit rating at the time.

Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of issuers, corporate debt securities can have widely varying risk/return profiles. For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated by an NRSRO as investment grade may have a relatively modest return on principal but present relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued, for example, by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated by an NRSRO may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal but carries a relatively high degree of risk.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with corporate debt securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, High Yield Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.

Custody Receipts and Trust Certificates

Custody receipts and trust certificates are derivative products that evidence direct ownership in a pool of securities. Typically, a sponsor will deposit a pool of securities with a custodian in exchange for custody receipts evidencing interests in those securities. The sponsor generally then will sell the custody receipts or trust certificates in negotiated transactions at varying prices. Each custody receipt or trust certificate evidences the individual securities in the pool and the holder of a custody receipt or trust certificate generally will have all the rights and privileges of owners of those securities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with custody receipts and trust certificates include: Liquidity Risk and Counterparty Risk. In addition, custody receipts and trust certificates generally are subject to the same risks as the securities evidenced by the receipts or certificates.

Debt Obligations

Many different types of debt obligations exist (for example, bills, bonds, and notes). Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at a fixed, variable or floating rate on specified dates and to repay principal by a specified maturity date. Certain debt obligations (usually intermediate and long-term bonds) have provisions that allow the issuer to redeem or “call” a bond before its maturity. Issuers are most likely to call these securities during periods of falling interest rates. When this happens, an investor may have to replace these securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return.

The market value of debt obligations is affected primarily by changes in prevailing interest rates and the issuer’s perceived ability to repay the debt. The market value of a debt obligation generally reacts inversely to interest rate changes. When prevailing interest rates decline, the market value of the bond usually rises, and when prevailing interest rates rise, the market value of the bond usually declines.

In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation, the higher its yield and the greater the sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Conversely, the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield and the lower the sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

As noted, the values of debt obligations also may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal. To compensate investors for taking on such increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less creditworthy generally must offer their investors higher interest rates than do issuers with better credit ratings. See Types of Investments — Corporate Debt Securities and High Yield Securities .

See Types of Investments — Trust-Preferred Securities for information with respect to the trust-preferred or trust-issued securities.

Determining Investment Grade for Purposes of Investment Policies . When determining whether a security is investment grade or below investment grade for purposes of investment policies of investing in such securities, the Funds use the middle rating of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch after excluding the highest and lowest available ratings. When a rating from only two of these agencies is available, the lower rating is used. When a rating from only one of these agencies is available, that rating is used. When a security is not rated by one of these agencies, the Investment Manager or, as applicable, a subadviser, determines whether it is of investment grade or below investment grade (e.g., junk bond) quality. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.

 

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All ratings limitations are applied at the time of purchase. Subsequent to purchase, a debt security may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by a Fund. Neither event will require the sale of such a security, but it will be a factor in considering whether to continue to hold the security.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with debt obligations include: Confidential Information Access Risk, Credit Risk, Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk, Impairment of Collateral Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.

Depositary Receipts

See Types of Investments — Foreign Securities below.

Derivatives

General

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are based on (or “derived” from) traditional securities (such as a stock or a bond), assets (such as a commodity, like gold), reference rates (such as LIBOR), market indices (such as the S&P 500 ® Index) or customized baskets of securities or instruments. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indices, are traded on regulated exchanges. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market values are determined and published daily. Non-standardized derivatives, on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex, and may be harder to value. Many derivative instruments often require little or no initial payment and therefore often create inherent economic leverage. Derivatives, when used properly, can enhance returns and be useful in hedging portfolios and managing risk. Some common types of derivatives include futures; options; options on futures; forward foreign currency exchange contracts; forward contracts on securities and securities indices; linked securities and structured products; CMOs; stripped securities; warrants; swap agreements and swaptions.

A Fund may use derivatives for a variety of reasons, including, for example: (i) to enhance its return; (ii) to attempt to protect against possible unfavorable changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for its portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations (i.e., to hedge); (iii) to protect its unrealized gains reflected in the value of its portfolio securities; (iv) to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes; (v) to reduce transaction costs; (vi) to manage the effective maturity or duration of its portfolio; and/or (vii) to maintain cash reserves while remaining fully invested.

A Fund may use any or all of the above investment techniques and may purchase different types of derivative instruments at any time and in any combination. The use of derivatives is a function of numerous variables, including market conditions. See also Types of Investments — Warrants and Rights and When Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions .

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with transactions in derivatives (including the derivatives instruments discussed below) include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Leverage Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk, Derivatives Risk, Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk, Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps, Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk, Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk, Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk, Derivatives Risk/Options Risk, Derivatives Risk/Portfolio Swaps and Total Return Swaps Risk, Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk, and Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk.

Index or Linked Securities (Structured Products)

General. Indexed or linked securities, also often referred to as “structured products,” are instruments that may have varying combinations of equity and debt characteristics. These instruments are structured to recast the investment characteristics of the underlying security or reference asset. If the issuer is a unit investment trust or other special purpose vehicle, the structuring will typically involve the deposit with or purchase by such issuer of specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans or securities) and/or the execution of various derivative transactions, and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities (structured securities) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments.

Indexed and Inverse Floating Rate Securities. A Fund may invest in securities that provide a potential return based on a particular index or interest rates. For example, a Fund may invest in debt securities that pay interest based on an index of

 

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interest rates. The principal amount payable upon maturity of certain securities also may be based on the value of the index. To the extent a Fund invests in these types of securities, a Fund’s return on such securities will rise and fall with the value of the particular index: that is, if the value of the index falls, the value of the indexed securities owned by a Fund will fall. Interest and principal payable on certain securities may also be based on relative changes among particular indices.

A Fund may also invest in so-called “inverse floaters” or “residual interest bonds” on which the interest rates vary inversely with a floating rate (which may be reset periodically by a dutch auction, a remarketing agent, or by reference to a short-term tax-exempt interest rate index). A Fund may purchase synthetically-created inverse floating rate bonds evidenced by custodial or trust receipts. A trust funds the purchase of a bond by issuing two classes of certificates: short-term floating rate notes (typically sold to third parties) and the inverse floaters (also known as residual certificates). No additional income beyond that provided by the trust’s underlying bond is created; rather, that income is merely divided-up between the two classes of certificates. Generally, income on inverse floating rate bonds will decrease when interest rates increase, and will increase when interest rates decrease. Such securities can have the effect of providing a degree of investment leverage, since they may increase or decrease in value in response to changes in market interest rates at a rate that is a multiple of the actual rate at which fixed-rate securities increase or decrease in response to such changes. As a result, the market values of such securities will generally be more volatile than the market values of fixed-rate securities. To seek to limit the volatility of these securities, a Fund may purchase inverse floating obligations that have shorter-term maturities or that contain limitations on the extent to which the interest rate may vary. Certain investments in such obligations may be illiquid. Furthermore, where such a security includes a contingent liability, in the event of an adverse movement in the underlying index or interest rate, a Fund may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain the position.

Credit Linked Securities. Among the income-producing securities in which a Fund may invest are credit linked securities. The issuers of these securities frequently are limited purpose trusts or other special purpose vehicles that, in turn, invest in a derivative instrument or basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain fixed income markets. For instance, a Fund may invest in credit linked securities as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to a certain market and/or to remain fully invested when more traditional income-producing securities are not available. Like an investment in a bond, investments in these credit linked securities represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the security. However, these payments are conditioned on or linked to the issuer’s receipt of payments from, and the issuer’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the issuer invests. For instance, the issuer may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the issuer would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the issuer would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and/or principal that a Fund would receive. A Fund’s investments in these securities are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments. These securities generally are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the securities and they may constitute illiquid investments.

Index-, Commodity- and Currency-Linked Securities. “Index-linked” or “commodity-linked” notes are debt securities of companies that call for interest payments and/or payment at maturity in different terms than the typical note where the borrower agrees to make fixed interest payments and to pay a fixed sum at maturity. Principal and/or interest payments on an index-linked or commodity-linked note depend on the performance of one or more market indices, such as the S&P 500 ® Index, a weighted index of commodity futures such as crude oil, gasoline and natural gas or the market prices of a particular commodity or basket of commodities or securities. Currency-linked debt securities are short-term or intermediate-term instruments having a value at maturity, and/or an interest rate, determined by reference to one or more foreign currencies. Payment of principal or periodic interest may be calculated as a multiple of the movement of one currency against another currency, or against an index.

Index-, commodity- and currency-linked securities may entail substantial risks. Such instruments may be subject to significant price volatility. The company issuing the instrument may fail to pay the amount due on maturity. The underlying investment may not perform as expected by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Markets and underlying investments and indexes may move in a direction that was not anticipated by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Performance of the derivatives may be influenced by interest rate and other market changes in the United States and abroad, and certain derivative instruments may be illiquid.

Linked securities are often issued by unit investment trusts. Examples of this include such index-linked securities as S&P Depositary Receipts (SPDRs), which is an interest in a unit investment trust holding a portfolio of securities linked to the S&P 500 ® Index, and a type of exchange-traded fund (ETF). Because a unit investment trust is an investment company under the 1940 Act, a Fund’s investments in SPDRs are subject to the limitations set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, although the SEC has issued exemptive relief permitting investment companies such as the Funds to invest beyond the limits

 

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of Section 12(d)(1)(A) subject to certain conditions. SPDRs generally closely track the underlying portfolio of securities, trade like a share of common stock and pay periodic dividends proportionate to those paid by the portfolio of stocks that comprise the S&P 500 ® Index. As a holder of interests in a unit investment trust, a Fund would indirectly bear its ratable share of that unit investment trust’s expenses. At the same time, a Fund would continue to pay its own management and advisory fees and other expenses, as a result of which a Fund and its shareholders in effect would be absorbing levels of fees with respect to investments in such unit investment trusts.

Because linked securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured products may be structured as a class that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated linked securities typically have higher rates of return and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured products. Structured products sometimes are sold in private placement transactions and often have a limited trading market.

Investments in linked securities have the potential to lead to significant losses because of unexpected movements in the underlying financial asset, index, currency or other investment. The ability of a Fund to utilize linked securities successfully will depend on its ability correctly to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Because currency-linked securities usually relate to foreign currencies, some of which may be currencies from emerging market countries, there are certain additional risks associated with such investments.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts

Futures Contracts. A futures contract sale creates an obligation by the seller to deliver the type of security or other asset called for in the contract at a specified delivery time for a stated price. A futures contract purchase creates an obligation by the purchaser to take delivery of the type of security or other asset called for in the contract at a specified delivery time for a stated price. The specific security or other asset delivered or taken at the settlement date is not determined until on or near that date. The determination is made in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract was made. A Fund may enter into futures contracts which are traded on national or foreign futures exchanges and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying security or other asset. Futures exchanges and trading in the United States are regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a U.S. Government agency. See Types of Investments — Derivatives — CFTC Regulation below for information on CFTC regulation.

Traders in futures contracts may be broadly classified as either “hedgers” or “speculators.” Hedgers use the futures markets primarily to offset unfavorable changes (anticipated or potential) in the value of securities or other assets currently owned or expected to be acquired by them. Speculators less often own the securities or other assets underlying the futures contracts which they trade, and generally use futures contracts with the expectation of realizing profits from fluctuations in the value of the underlying securities or other assets.

Upon entering into futures contracts, in compliance with regulatory requirements, cash or liquid securities, equal in value to the amount of a Fund’s obligation under the contract (less any applicable margin deposits and any assets that constitute “cover” for such obligation), will be segregated with a Fund’s custodian.

Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract, although a Fund is required to deposit with its custodian in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash and/or U.S. Government securities in order to initiate and maintain open positions in futures contracts. This amount is known as “initial margin.” The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in security transactions, in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by a Fund to finance the transactions. Rather, initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying security or other asset) that is returned to a Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the relevant futures exchange and may be changed. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin which may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded. Subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the broker (or the custodian) are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying security or other asset fluctuates, a process known as “marking to market.” If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional variation margin will be required. Conversely, a change in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made for as long as the contract remains open. A Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.

Although futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities or other assets (stock index futures contracts or futures contracts that reference other intangible assets do not permit delivery of the referenced assets), the contracts usually are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. A Fund may elect to close some or all of its futures positions at any time prior to their expiration. The purpose of taking such action would be to

 

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reduce or eliminate the position then currently held by a Fund. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract (i.e., the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security or other asset with the same delivery date) to terminate the position. Final determinations are made as to whether the price of the initial sale of the futures contract exceeds or is below the price of the offsetting purchase, or whether the purchase price exceeds or is below the offsetting sale price. Final determinations of variation margin are then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to a Fund, and a Fund realizes a loss or a gain. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold.

Successful use of futures contracts by a Fund is subject to its portfolio manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates and other factors affecting securities and commodities markets. This requires different skills and techniques than those required to predict changes in the prices of individual securities. A Fund, therefore, bears the risk that future market trends will be incorrectly predicted.

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the relatively low margin deposits required and the potential for an extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures contracts. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount posted as initial margin for the contract.

In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments in order to maintain its required margin. In such a situation, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities in order to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close the futures position also could have an adverse impact on the ability to hedge effectively.

To reduce or eliminate a hedge position held by a Fund, a Fund may seek to close out a position. The ability to establish and close out positions will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. It is not certain that this market will develop or continue to exist for a particular futures contract, which may limit a Fund’s ability to realize its profits or limit its losses. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain contracts; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions, closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of contracts, or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances, such as volume in excess of trading or clearing capability, may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of contracts (or a particular class or series of contracts), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of contracts) would cease to exist, although outstanding contracts on the exchange that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

Interest Rate Futures Contracts. Bond prices are established in both the cash market and the futures market. In the cash market, bonds are purchased and sold with payment for the full purchase price of the bond being made in cash, generally within five business days after the trade. In the futures market, a contract is made to purchase or sell a bond in the future for a set price on a certain date. Historically, the prices for bonds established in the futures markets have tended to move generally in the aggregate in concert with the cash market prices and have maintained fairly predictable relationships. Accordingly, a Fund may use interest rate futures contracts as a defense, or hedge, against anticipated interest rate changes. A Fund presently could accomplish a similar result to that which it hopes to achieve through the use of interest rate futures contracts by selling bonds with long maturities and investing in bonds with short maturities when interest rates are expected to increase, or conversely, selling bonds with short maturities and investing in bonds with long maturities when interest rates are expected to decline. However, because of the liquidity that is often available in the futures market, the protection is more likely to be achieved, perhaps at a lower cost and without changing the rate of interest being earned by a Fund, through using futures contracts.

Interest rate futures contracts are traded in an auction environment on the floors of several exchanges — principally, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Futures Exchange. Each exchange guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership. A public market exists in futures contracts covering various financial instruments including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes; GNMA modified pass-through mortgage backed securities; three-month U.S. Treasury Bills; and ninety-day commercial paper. A Fund may also invest in exchange-traded Eurodollar contracts, which are interest rate futures on the forward level of LIBOR. These contracts are generally considered liquid securities and trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Such

 

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Eurodollar contracts are generally used to “lock-in” or hedge the future level of short-term rates. A Fund may trade in any interest rate futures contracts for which there exists a public market, including, without limitation, the foregoing instruments.

Index Futures Contracts. An index futures contract is a contract to buy or sell units of an index at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Entering into a contract to buy units of an index is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in the index. Entering into a contract to sell units of an index is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the index. A unit is the current value of the index. A Fund may enter into stock index futures contracts, debt index futures contracts, or other index futures contracts appropriate to its objective(s).

Municipal Bond Index Futures Contracts. Municipal bond index futures contracts may act as a hedge against changes in market conditions. A municipal bond index assigns values daily to the municipal bonds included in the index based on the independent assessment of dealer-to-dealer municipal bond brokers. A municipal bond index futures contract represents a firm commitment by which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount equal to a specified dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the municipal bond index value on the last trading date of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.

Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts. Commodity-linked futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges. These futures exchanges offer a central marketplace in which to transact in futures contracts, a clearing corporation to process trades, and standardization of expiration dates and contract sizes. Futures markets also specify the terms and conditions of delivery as well as the maximum permissible price movement during a trading session. Additionally, the commodity futures exchanges may have position limit rules that limit the amount of futures contracts that any one party may hold in a particular commodity at any point in time. These position limit rules are designed to prevent any one participant from controlling a significant portion of the market.

Commodity-linked futures contracts are generally based upon commodities within six main commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes, among others, crude oil, brent crude oil, gas oil, natural gas, gasoline and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes, among others, feeder cattle, live cattle and hogs; (3) agriculture, which includes, among others, wheat (Kansas wheat and Chicago wheat), corn and soybeans; (4) industrial metals, which includes, among others, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc; and (5) precious metals, which includes, among others, gold and silver; and (6) softs, which includes cotton, coffee, sugar and cocoa. A Fund may purchase commodity futures contracts, swaps on commodity futures contracts, options on futures contracts and options and futures on commodity indices with respect to these six main commodity groups and the individual commodities within each group, as well as other types of commodities.

The price of a commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the “convenience yield”). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while a Fund is long futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.

In the commodity futures markets, if producers of the underlying commodity wish to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity, they will sell futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to take the corresponding long side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer must be willing to sell the futures contract at a price that is below the expected future spot price. Conversely, if the predominant hedgers in the futures market are the purchasers of the underlying commodity who purchase futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only take the short side of the futures contract if the futures price is greater than the expected future spot price of the commodity.

The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures contract prices are above or below the expected future spot price. This can have significant implications for a Fund when it is time to replace an existing contract with a new contract. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted such that commodity purchasers are the predominant hedgers in the market, a Fund might open the new futures position at a higher price or choose other related commodity-linked investments.

The values of commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts are subject to additional variables which may be less significant to the values of traditional securities such as stocks and bonds. Variables such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes and tariffs may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked investments, including futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, commodity-linked options and commodity-linked swaps, than on traditional securities. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject a Fund’s commodity-linked investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

 

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Options on Futures Contracts. A Fund may purchase and write call and put options on those futures contracts that it is permitted to buy or sell. A Fund may use such options on futures contracts in lieu of writing options directly on the underlying securities or other assets or purchasing and selling the underlying futures contracts. Such options generally operate in the same manner as options purchased or written directly on the underlying investments. A futures option gives the holder, in return for the premium paid, the right, but not the obligation, to buy from (call) or sell to (put) the writer of the option a futures contract at a specified price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise, the writer of the option is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the futures contract and the exercise price. Like the buyer or seller of a futures contract, the holder or writer of an option has the right to terminate its position prior to the scheduled expiration of the option by selling or purchasing an option of the same series, at which time the person entering into the closing purchase transaction will realize a gain or loss. There is no guarantee that such closing purchase transactions can be effected.

A Fund will enter into written options on futures contracts only when, in compliance with regulatory requirements, it has segregated cash or liquid securities equal in value to the underlying security’s or other asset’s value (less any applicable margin deposits). A Fund will be required to deposit initial margin and maintenance margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it pursuant to brokers’ requirements similar to those described above.

Options on Index Futures Contracts. A Fund may also purchase and sell options on index futures contracts. Options on index futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the index future. If an option is exercised on the last trading day prior to the expiration date of the option, the settlement will be made entirely in cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the closing level of the index on which the future is based on the expiration date. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.

Use by Tax-Exempt Funds of Interest Rate and U.S. Treasury Security Futures Contracts and Options. If a Fund invests in tax-exempt securities, it may purchase and sell futures contracts and related options on interest rate and U.S. Treasury securities when, in the opinion of a Fund’s portfolio manager, price movements in these security futures and related options will correlate closely with price movements in the tax-exempt securities which are the subject of the hedge. Interest rate and U.S. Treasury securities futures contracts require the seller to deliver, or the purchaser to take delivery of, the type of security called for in the contract at a specified date and price. Options on interest rate and U.S. Treasury security futures contracts give the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract at the specified option exercise price at any time during the period of the option.

Options on Stocks and Stock and Other Indices. A Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular stocks or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks.

There is a key difference between stock options and index options in connection with their exercise. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than (in the case of a call) or less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the securities included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the S&P 500 ® Index or a narrower market index, such as the S&P 100 ® Index. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment.

A Fund may, for the purpose of hedging its portfolio, subject to applicable securities regulations, purchase and write put and call options on foreign stock indices listed on foreign and domestic stock exchanges.

As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, a Fund may purchase call and put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options could be used in a manner identical to the use of options on index futures. Options involving securities indices provide the holder with the right to make or receive a cash settlement upon exercise of the option based on movements in the relevant index. Such options must be listed on a national securities exchange and issued by the OCC. Such options may relate to particular securities or to various stock indices, except that a Fund may not write covered options on an index.

 

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Writing Covered Options. A Fund may write covered call options and covered put options on securities held in its portfolio. Call options written by a Fund give the purchaser the right to buy the underlying securities from a Fund at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the security’s market price; put options give the purchaser the right to sell the underlying securities to a Fund at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the security’s market price.

A Fund may write covered options, which means that, so long as a Fund is obligated as the writer of a call option, it will own the underlying securities subject to the option (or comparable securities satisfying the cover requirements of securities exchanges). In the case of put options, a Fund will hold liquid securities equal to the price to be paid if the option is exercised. In addition, a Fund will be considered to have covered a put or call option if and to the extent that it holds an option that offsets some or all of the risk of the option it has written. A Fund may write combinations of covered puts and calls (straddles) on the same underlying security.

A Fund will receive a premium from writing a put or call option, which increases a Fund’s return on the underlying security if the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. The amount of the premium reflects, among other things, the relationship between the exercise price and the current market value of the underlying security, the volatility of the underlying security, the amount of time remaining until expiration, current interest rates, and the effect of supply and demand in the options market and in the market for the underlying security. By writing a call option, a Fund limits its opportunity to profit from any increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security. By writing a put option, a Fund assumes the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying security for an exercise price higher than the security’s then-current market value, resulting in a potential capital loss unless the security subsequently appreciates in value.

A Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by a Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an offsetting option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected in order to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. A Fund realizes a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction (option premium plus transaction costs) is less or more than the premium received from writing the option. Because increases in the market price of a call option generally reflect increases in the market price of the security underlying the option, any loss resulting from a closing purchase transaction may be offset in whole or in part by unrealized appreciation of the underlying security.

If a Fund writes a call option but does not own the underlying security, and when it writes a put option, a Fund may be required to deposit cash or securities with its broker as “margin” or collateral for its obligation to buy or sell the underlying security. As the value of the underlying security varies, a Fund may also have to deposit additional margin with the broker. Margin requirements are complex and are fixed by individual brokers, subject to minimum requirements currently imposed by the Federal Reserve Board and by stock exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations.

Purchasing Put Options. A Fund may purchase put options to protect its portfolio holdings in an underlying security against a decline in market value. Such hedge protection is provided during the life of the put option since a Fund, as holder of the put option, is able to sell the underlying security at the put exercise price regardless of any decline in the underlying security’s market price. For a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. By using put options in this manner, a Fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized from appreciation of the underlying security by the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs.

Purchasing Call Options. A Fund may purchase call options, including call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities that a Fund wants ultimately to buy. Such hedge protection is provided during the life of the call option since a Fund, as holder of the call option, is able to buy the underlying security at the exercise price regardless of any increase in the underlying security’s market price. In order for a call option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must rise sufficiently above the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. These costs will reduce any profit a Fund might have realized had it bought the underlying security at the time it purchased the call option.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options. OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) are generally established through negotiation with the other party to the options contract. A Fund will enter into OTC options transactions only with primary dealers in U.S. Government securities and, in the case of OTC options written by a Fund, only pursuant to agreements that will assure that a Fund will at all times have the right to repurchase the option written by it from the dealer at a specified formula price. A Fund will treat the amount by which such formula price exceeds the amount, if any, by which the option may be “in-the-money” as an

 

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illiquid investment. It is the present policy of a Fund not to enter into any OTC option transaction if, as a result, more than 15% (10% in some cases, refer to your Fund’s prospectuses) of a Fund’s net assets would be invested in (i) illiquid investments (determined under the foregoing formula) relating to OTC options written by a Fund, (ii) OTC options purchased by a Fund, (iii) securities which are not readily marketable, and (iv) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days.

Swap Agreements

Swap agreements are derivative instruments that can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to long- or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. A Fund may enter into a variety of swap agreements, including interest rate, index, commodity, commodity futures, equity, equity index, credit default, bond futures, total return, portfolio and currency exchange rate swap agreements, and other types of swap agreements such as caps, collars and floors. A Fund also may enter into swaptions, which are options to enter into a swap agreement.

Swap agreements are usually entered into without an upfront payment because the value of each party’s position is the same. The market values of the underlying commitments will change over time, resulting in one of the commitments being worth more than the other and the net market value creating a risk exposure for one party or the other.

In a typical interest rate swap, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a “notional principal amount,” in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for a specified period of time. If a swap agreement provides for payments in different currencies, the parties might agree to exchange notional principal amounts as well. In a total return swap agreement, the non-floating rate side of the swap is based on the total return of an individual security, a basket of securities, an index or another reference asset. Swaps may also depend on other prices or rates, such as the value of an index or mortgage prepayment rates.

In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. A collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor. In interest rate collar transactions, one party sells a cap and purchases a floor, or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels or collar amounts.

Swap agreements will tend to shift a Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if a Fund agreed to pay fixed rates in exchange for floating rates while holding fixed-rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease a Fund’s exposure to long-term interest rates. Another example is if a Fund agreed to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency. In that case, the swap agreement would tend to decrease a Fund’s exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and interest rates.

Because swaps are two-party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. If a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument.

Counterparty risk with respect to derivatives will be affected by new rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Credit risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member

 

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is obligated by contract and by applicable regulation to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of a Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member is required to transfer to the clearing organization the amount of margin required by the clearing organization for cleared derivatives, which amounts are generally held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization for all customers of the clearing member. Regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing organization that is attributable to each customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Funds are subject to the risk that a clearing organization will use a Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In addition, clearing members generally provide to the clearing organization the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Funds are therefore subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to a Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default, and the risk that a Fund will be required to provide additional variation margin to the clearing house before the clearing house will move the Fund’s cleared derivatives transactions to another clearing member. In addition, if a clearing member does not comply with the applicable regulations or its agreement with the Funds, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, a Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.

Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swap agreements are often used to obtain or preserve a desired return or spread at a lower cost than through a direct investment in an instrument that yields the desired return or spread. They are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate cash flow for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. In a standard interest rate swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange their respective commitments to pay fixed or floating interest rates on a predetermined specified (notional) amount. The swap agreement’s notional amount is the predetermined basis for calculating the obligations that the swap counterparties have agreed to exchange. Under most swap agreements, the obligations of the parties are exchanged on a net basis. The two payment streams are netted out, with each party receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including LIBOR, swap rates, Treasury rates and foreign interest rates.

Credit Default Swap Agreements. A Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more securities or a basket of securities that are or are not currently held by a Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap. If a Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, a Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, a Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, a Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

Credit default swap agreements may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to risks relating to the reference obligation, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. A Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements generally with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally will lose its investment and recover nothing if no credit event occurs and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller.

A Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the buyer, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or other liquid assets, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a mark-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the seller, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or other liquid assets, or enter into offsetting positions, with a

 

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value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund). Such segregation or “earmarking” will ensure that a Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction. Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit a Fund’s exposure to loss.

Equity Swaps. A Fund may engage in equity swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to the swap agreement to exchange components of return on one equity investment (e.g., a basket of equity securities or an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or equity investment, including an exchange of differential rates of return. Equity swaps may be used to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances where direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impractical. Equity swaps also may be used for other purposes, such as hedging or seeking to increase total return.

Total Return Swap Agreements. Total return swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Total return swap agreements may effectively add leverage to a Fund’s portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

Total return swap agreements are subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations to a Fund thereunder, and conversely, that a Fund will not be able to meet its obligation to the counterparty. Generally, a Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted against one another with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each total return swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be segregated by a Fund. If the total return swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of a Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of a Fund’s obligations will be segregated by a Fund in an amount equal to or greater than the market value of the liabilities under the total return swap agreement or the amount it would have cost a Fund initially to make an equivalent direct investment, plus or minus any amount a Fund is obligated to pay or is to receive under the total return swap agreement.

Variance, Volatility and Correlation Swap Agreements. Variance and volatility swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the volatility of certain referenced assets. Correlation swaps are contracts that provide exposure to increases or decreases in the correlation between the prices of different assets or different market rates.

Commodity-Linked Swaps. Commodity-linked swaps are two-party contracts in which the parties agree to exchange the return or interest rate on one instrument for the return of a particular commodity, commodity index or commodities futures or options contract. The payment streams are calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount. A one-period swap contract operates in a manner similar to a forward or futures contract because there is an agreement to swap a commodity for cash at only one forward date. A Fund may engage in swap transactions that have more than one period and therefore more than one exchange of commodities.

A Fund may invest in total return commodity swaps to gain exposure to the overall commodity markets. In a total return commodity swap, a Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the Fund will pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is more than one period, with interim swap payments, the Fund will pay an adjustable or floating fee. With a “floating” rate, the fee is pegged to a base rate such as LIBOR, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, a Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.

Cross Currency Swaps. Cross currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. A Fund may enter into a cross currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and termination of the agreements, both sides will have to pay in full periodically based upon the currency they have borrowed. Changes in foreign exchange currency rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Contracts for Differences. Contracts for differences are swap arrangements in which the parties agree that their return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or baskets of securities. Often, one or both baskets will be an established securities index. A Fund’s return will be based on changes in value of theoretical long futures positions in the

 

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securities comprising one basket (with an aggregate face value equal to the notional amount of the contract for differences) and theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising the other basket. A Fund also may use actual long and short futures positions and achieve similar market exposure by netting the payment obligations of the two contracts. A Fund typically enters into contracts for differences (and analogous futures positions) when its portfolio manager believes that the basket of securities constituting the long position will outperform the basket constituting the short position. If the short basket outperforms the long basket, a Fund will realize a loss — even in circumstances when the securities in both the long and short baskets appreciate in value.

Swaptions. A swaption is an options contract on a swap agreement. These transactions that give a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into new swap agreements or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement (which are described herein) at some designated future time on specified terms, in return for payment of the purchase price (the “premium”) of the option. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. The writer of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the market value on the underlying swap agreement. Swaptions can be bundled and sold as a package. These are commonly called interest rate caps, floors and collars (which are described herein).

Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Many over-the-counter derivatives are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or incorrect valuation. The pricing models used may not produce valuations that are consistent with the values the Fund realizes when it closes or sells an over-the-counter derivative. Valuation risk is more pronounced when the Fund enters into over-the-counter derivatives with specialized terms because the market value of those derivatives in some cases is determined in part by reference to similar derivatives with more standardized terms. Incorrect valuations may result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties, undercollateralization and/or errors in calculation of the Fund’s net asset value.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) established a framework for the regulation of OTC swap markets; the framework outlined the joint responsibility of the CFTC and the SEC in regulating swaps. The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of swaps, the SEC is responsible for the regulation of security-based swaps and they are both jointly responsible for the regulation of mixed swaps.

Risk of Potential Governmental Regulation of Derivatives

It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Funds from using such instruments as a part of their investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Funds from being able to achieve their investment objectives. It is impossible to predict fully the effects of legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The SEC, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.

The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in a Fund or the ability of a Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in July 2010, sets forth a new legislative framework for OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Funds may invest. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act makes broad changes to the OTC derivatives market, grants significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants, and will require clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions.

Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions

Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared. In a transaction involving those swaps (“cleared derivatives”), a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Funds are not members of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Funds will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives positions, the Funds will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.

In many ways, cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to mutual funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Funds may be required to provide more margin for cleared derivatives positions than for bilateral derivatives positions. Also, in contrast to a bilateral derivatives position, following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member generally can

 

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require termination of an existing cleared derivatives position at any time or an increase in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing positions or to terminate those positions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination of existing cleared derivatives positions by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could expose a Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member because margin for cleared derivatives positions in excess of a clearing house’s margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, a Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Adviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Funds and their clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all cleared derivatives transactions that are within credit limits (specified in advance) for each Fund, the Funds are still subject to the risk that no clearing member will be willing or able to clear a transaction. In those cases, the position might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the position, including loss of an increase in the value of the position and/or loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Funds and clearing members is drafted by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Funds than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, documentation relating to cleared derivatives generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Funds in favor of the clearing member for losses the clearing member incurs as the Funds’ clearing member and typically does not provide the Funds any remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent. While futures contracts entail similar risks, the risks likely are more pronounced for cleared swaps due to their more limited liquidity and market history.

Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility. A swap execution facility is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a swap execution facility can create additional costs and risks for the Funds. For example, swap execution facilities typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, a Fund may indemnify a swap execution facility, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a swap execution facility on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the swap execution facility.

These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. These regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the Funds and the financial system are not yet known. While the new regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that the new clearing mechanisms will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Funds to new kinds of risks and costs.

CFTC Regulation

Each of VP AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, VP GS Commodity Strategy Fund, and VP Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund no longer qualifies for an exclusion from the definition of a commodity pool pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). Accordingly, the Investment Manager is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to these Funds, effective January 1, 2013. The Investment Manager and these Funds are subject to dual regulation by the SEC and the CFTC. Compliance with the CFTC’s new regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting a Fund’s total return. Each Fund and the Investment Manager continue to analyze the effect that these rules, including the CFTC’s recent harmonization of overlapping disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, may have on the Funds.

Each of the other Funds listed on the cover of this SAI qualifies for an exclusion from the definition of a commodity pool under the CEA and has filed a notice of exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5. Accordingly, the Investment Manager is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to these Funds. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of these Funds is limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA (“commodity interests”), including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions. In the event that a Fund’s investments in commodity interests are not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the Investment Manager may be required to register as a “commodity pool operator” with the CFTC with respect to that Fund. The Investment Manager’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to a Fund will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of a Fund’s investments in commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of commodity interests. Each such Fund’s ability to invest in commodity interests (including, but not limited to, futures

 

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and swaps on broad-based securities indexes and interest rates) is limited by the Investment Manager’s intention to operate the Fund in a manner that would permit the Investment Manager to continue to claim the exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the Fund’s total return. In the event the Investment Manager becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator with respect to a Fund, the Fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting that Fund’s total return.

Dollar Rolls

Dollar rolls involve selling securities (e.g., mortgage-backed securities or U.S. Treasury securities) and simultaneously entering into a commitment to purchase those or similar securities on a specified future date and price from the same party. Mortgage dollar rolls and U.S. Treasury rolls are types of dollar rolls. A Fund foregoes principal and interest paid on the securities during the “roll” period. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase of the securities, as well as the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The investor also could be compensated through the receipt of fee income equivalent to a lower forward price.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with mortgage dollar rolls include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk.

Equity-Linked Notes

An equity-linked note (ELN) is a debt instrument whose value is based on the value of a single equity security, basket of equity securities or an index of equity securities (each, an Underlying Equity). An ELN typically provides interest income, thereby offering a yield advantage over investing directly in an Underlying Equity. The Fund may purchase ELNs that trade on a securities exchange or those that trade on the over-the-counter markets, including Rule 144A securities. The Fund may also purchase ELNs in a privately negotiated transaction with the issuer of the ELNs (or its broker-dealer affiliate). The Fund may or may not hold an ELN until its maturity.

Equity-linked securities also include issues such as Structured Yield Product Exchangeable for Stock (STRYPES), Trust Automatic Common Exchange Securities (TRACES), Trust Issued Mandatory Exchange Securities (TIMES) and Trust Enhanced Dividend Securities (TRENDS). The issuers of these equity-linked securities generally purchase and hold a portfolio of stripped U.S. Treasury securities maturing on a quarterly basis through the conversion date, and a forward purchase contract with an existing shareholder of the company relating to the common stock. Quarterly distributions on such equity-linked securities generally consist of the cash received from the U.S. Treasury securities and such equity-linked securities generally are not entitled to any dividends that may be declared on the common stock.

Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar and Related Derivatives Instruments

Eurodollar instruments are bonds that pay interest and principal in U.S. dollars held in banks outside the United States, primarily in Europe. Eurodollar instruments are usually issued on behalf of multinational companies and foreign governments by large underwriting groups composed of banks and issuing houses from many countries. Yankee Dollar instruments are U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued in the United States by foreign banks and corporations. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities issued by U.S. issuers.

Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund may use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in the LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar instruments include: Credit Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Issuer Risk.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Because investments in foreign securities usually involve currencies of foreign countries and because a Fund may hold cash and cash equivalent investments in foreign currencies, the value of a Fund’s assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Also, a Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing a Fund’s NAV to fluctuate. Currency exchange rates are generally determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets, actual or anticipated changes in interest rates, and other complex factors. Currency exchange rates also can be affected by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments.

Spot Rates and Derivative Instruments. A Fund may conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either at the spot (cash) rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or by entering into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (forward contracts). (See Types of Investments — Derivatives .) These contracts are traded in the interbank market

 

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conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve substantially larger amounts than those involved in the use of such derivative instruments, a Fund could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot market for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

A Fund may enter into forward contracts for a variety of reasons, including for risk management (hedging) or for investment purposes.

When a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency or has been notified of a dividend or interest payment, it may desire to lock in the price of the security or the amount of the payment, usually in U.S. dollars, although it could desire to lock in the price of the security in another currency. By entering into a forward contract, a Fund would be able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between different currencies from the date the security is purchased or sold to the date on which payment is made or received or when the dividend or interest is actually received.

A Fund may enter into forward contracts when management of the Fund believes the currency of a particular foreign country may decline in value relative to another currency. When selling currencies forward in this fashion, a Fund may seek to hedge the value of foreign securities it holds against an adverse move in exchange rates. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of securities involved generally will not be possible since the future value of securities in foreign currencies more than likely will change between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

This method of protecting the value of a Fund’s securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange that can be achieved at some point in time. Although forward contracts can be used to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in value of hedged currency, they will also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase.

A Fund may also enter into forward contracts when the Fund’s portfolio manager believes the currency of a particular country will increase in value relative to another currency. A Fund may buy currencies forward to gain exposure to a currency without incurring the additional costs of purchasing securities denominated in that currency.

For example, the combination of U.S. dollar-denominated instruments with long forward currency exchange contracts creates a position economically equivalent to a position in the foreign currency, in anticipation of an increase in the value of the foreign currency against the U.S. dollar. Conversely, the combination of U.S. dollar-denominated instruments with short forward currency exchange contracts is economically equivalent to borrowing the foreign currency for delivery at a specified date in the future, in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the foreign currency against the U.S. dollar.

Unanticipated changes in the currency exchange results could result in poorer performance for Funds that enter into these types of transactions.

A Fund may designate cash or securities in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to consummating forward contracts entered into under the circumstance set forth above. If the value of the securities declines, additional cash or securities will be designated on a daily basis so that the value of the cash or securities will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments on such contracts.

At maturity of a forward contract, a Fund may either deliver (if a contract to sell) or take delivery of (if a contract to buy) the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by entering into an offsetting contract with the same currency trader, having the same maturity date, and covering the same amount of foreign currency.

If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it will incur a gain or loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to buy or sell the foreign currency.

Although a Fund values its assets each business day in terms of U.S. dollars, it may not intend to convert its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. However, it will do so from time to time, and such conversions involve certain currency conversion costs. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (spread) between the prices at which they buy and sell various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer.

It is possible, under certain circumstances, including entering into forward currency contracts for investment purposes, that a Fund will be required to limit or restructure its forward contract currency transactions to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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Options on Foreign Currencies. A Fund may buy put and call options and write covered call and cash-secured put options on foreign currencies for hedging purposes and to gain exposure to foreign currencies. For example, a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which securities are denominated will reduce the dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against the diminutions in the value of securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency does decline, a Fund would have the right to sell the currency for a fixed amount in dollars and would thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio that otherwise would have resulted.

Conversely, where a change in the dollar value of a currency would increase the cost of securities a Fund plans to buy, or where a Fund would benefit from increased exposure to the currency, a Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency, giving it the right to purchase the currency for a fixed amount in dollars. The purchase of the options could offset, at least partially, the changes in exchange rates.

As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to a Fund derived from purchases of foreign currency options would be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, where currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, a Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options that would require it to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in rates.

A Fund may write options on foreign currencies for similar purposes. For example, when a Fund anticipates a decline in the dollar value of foreign-denominated securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, it could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency, giving the option holder the right to purchase that currency from the Fund for a fixed amount in dollars. If the expected decline occurs, the option would most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of securities would be offset, at least partially, by the amount of the premium received.

Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option when a foreign currency is expected to appreciate, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency, giving the option holder the right to that currency from the Fund for a fixed amount in dollars. If rates move in the manner projected, the put option would expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge increased cost up to the amount of the premium.

As in the case of other types of options, however, the writing of a foreign currency option will constitute only a partial hedge up to the amount of the premium, and only if rates move in the expected direction. If this does not occur, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss that may not be offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may be required to forego all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements on exchange rates.

An option written on foreign currencies is covered if a Fund holds currency sufficient to cover the option or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that currency without additional cash consideration upon conversion of assets denominated in that currency or exchange of other currency held in its portfolio. An option writer could lose amounts substantially in excess of its initial investments, due to the margin and collateral requirements associated with such positions.

Options on foreign currencies are traded through financial institutions acting as market-makers, although foreign currency options also are traded on certain national securities exchanges, such as the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, subject to SEC regulation. In an over-the-counter trading environment, many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available. For example, there are no daily price fluctuation limits, and adverse market movements could therefore continue to an unlimited extent over a period of time. Although the purchaser of an option cannot lose more than the amount of the premium plus related transaction costs, this entire amount could be lost.

Foreign currency option positions entered into on a national securities exchange are cleared and guaranteed by the OCC, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default. Further, a liquid secondary market in options traded on a national securities exchange may be more readily available than in the over-the-counter market, potentially permitting a Fund to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse market movements.

Foreign Currency Futures and Related Options. A Fund may enter into currency futures contracts to buy or sell currencies. It also may buy put and call options and write covered call and cash-secured put options on currency futures. Currency futures contracts are similar to currency forward contracts, except that they are traded on exchanges (and have margin requirements) and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. Most currency futures call for payment of delivery in U.S. dollars. A Fund may use currency futures for the same purposes as currency forward contracts, subject to CFTC limitations.

Currency futures and options on futures values can be expected to correlate with exchange rates, but will not reflect other factors that may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a Yen-denominated bond against a decline in the Yen, but will not protect a Fund against price decline if the issuer’s creditworthiness deteriorates. Because the value of a Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currency will change in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of a forward contract to the value of a Fund’s investments denominated in that currency over time.

 

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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with foreign currency transactions include: Derivatives Risk, Interest Rate Risk, and Liquidity Risk.

Foreign Securities

Unless otherwise stated in a Fund’s prospectus, stocks, bonds and other securities or investments are deemed to be “foreign” based primarily on the issuer’s place of organization/incorporation, but the Fund may also consider, under circumstances the Fund’s portfolio manager deems relevant, the issuer’s domicile, its principal place of business, its primary stock exchange listing, the source of its revenue or other factors. A Fund’s investments in foreign markets, may include issuers in emerging markets, as well as frontier markets, each of which carry heightened risks as compared with investments in other typical foreign markets. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and even less developed capital markets than typical emerging market countries (which themselves have increased investment risk relative to investing in more developed markets) and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. Foreign securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Due to the potential for foreign withholding taxes, MSCI publishes two versions of its indices reflecting the reinvestment of dividends using two different methodologies: gross dividends and net dividends. While both versions reflect reinvested dividends, they differ with respect to the manner in which taxes associated with dividend payments are treated. In calculating the net dividends version, MSCI incorporates reinvested dividends applying the withholding tax rate applicable to foreign non-resident institutional investors that do not benefit from double taxation treaties. The Investment Manager believes that the net dividends version of MSCI indices better reflects the returns U.S. investors might expect were they to invest directly in the component securities of an MSCI index.

There is a practice in certain foreign markets under which an issuer’s securities are blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting where such shares are voted. This is referred to as “share blocking”. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. Share blocking may prevent a Fund from buying or selling securities during this period, because during the time shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. It may be difficult or impossible to lift blocking restrictions, with the particular requirements varying widely by country. As a consequence of these restrictions, the Investment Manager, on behalf of a Fund, may abstain from voting proxies in markets that require share blocking.

Foreign securities may include depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts issued in registered form by a domestic bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. EDRs are foreign currency-denominated receipts issued in Europe, typically by foreign banks or trust companies and foreign branches of domestic banks, that evidence ownership of foreign or domestic securities. GDRs are receipts structured similarly to ADRs and EDRs and are marketed globally. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. In general, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. A Fund may invest in depositary receipts through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute interest holder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be limited information available regarding such issuers and/or limited correlation between available information and the market value of the depositary receipts.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with foreign securities include: Emerging Markets Securities Risk, Foreign Currency Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Frontier Market Risk, Geographic Concentration Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.

Guaranteed Investment Contracts (Funding Agreements)

Guaranteed investment contracts, or funding agreements, are short-term, privately placed debt instruments issued by insurance companies. Pursuant to such contracts, a Fund may make cash contributions to a deposit fund of the insurance company’s general account. The insurance company then credits to a Fund payments at negotiated, floating or fixed interest rates. A Fund will purchase guaranteed investment contracts only from issuers that, at the time of purchase, meet certain

 

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credit and quality standards. In general, guaranteed investment contracts are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing insurance companies, and an active secondary market does not exist for these investments. In addition, the issuer may not be able to pay the principal amount to a Fund on seven days’ notice or less, at which time the investment may be considered illiquid under applicable SEC regulatory guidance and subject to certain restrictions. See Types of Investments — Illiquid Securities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with guaranteed investment contracts (funding agreements) include: Credit Risk and Liquidity Risk.

High Yield Securities

High Yield, or low and below investment grade securities (below investment grade securities are also known as “junk bonds”), are debt securities with the lowest investment grade rating (e.g., BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s), that are below investment grade (e.g., lower than BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s) or that are unrated but determined by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be of comparable quality. These types of securities may be issued to fund corporate transactions or restructurings, such as leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, debt reclassifications or similar events, are more speculative in nature than securities with higher ratings and tend to be more sensitive to credit risk, particularly during a downturn in the economy. These types of securities generally are issued by unseasoned companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by companies or municipalities that have questionable credit strength. Low and below investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities: (i) likely will have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of one or more NRSROs, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; (ii) are speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation; and (iii) may have a less liquid secondary market, potentially making it difficult to value or sell such securities. Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the securities. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. Low and below investment grade securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

The rates of return on these types of securities generally are higher than the rates of return available on more highly rated securities, but generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of principal and income, including the possibility of default by or insolvency of the issuers of such securities. Accordingly, a Fund may be more dependent on the Investment Manager’s or a subadviser’s credit analysis with respect to these types of securities than is the case for more highly rated securities.

The market values of certain low and below investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than are the market values of more highly rated securities. In addition, issuers of low and below investment grade and comparable unrated securities often are highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired.

The risk of loss due to default is greater for low and below investment grade and comparable unrated securities than it is for higher rated securities because low and below investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to more senior indebtedness. A Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its holdings of such securities. The existence of limited markets for lower-rated debt securities may diminish a Fund’s ability to: (i) obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing such securities and calculating portfolio net asset value; and (ii) sell the securities at fair market value either to meet redemption requests or to respond to changes in the economy or in financial markets.

Many lower-rated securities are not registered for offer and sale to the public under the 1933 Act. Investments in these restricted securities may be determined to be liquid (able to be sold within seven days at approximately the price at which they are valued by a Fund) pursuant to policies approved by the Fund’s Trustees. Investments in illiquid securities, including restricted securities that have not been determined to be liquid, may not exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets. A Fund is not otherwise subject to any limitation on its ability to invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities may be less liquid than other lower-rated securities, potentially making it difficult to value or sell such securities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with low and below investment grade securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, High Yield Securities Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

 

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Illiquid Securities

Illiquid securities are defined by a Fund consistent with the SEC staff’s current guidance and interpretations which provide that an illiquid security is an asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which a Fund has valued the investment on its books. Some securities, such as those not registered under U.S. securities laws, cannot be sold in public transactions. Some securities are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale. Subject to its investment policies, a Fund may invest in illiquid investments and may invest in certain restricted securities that are deemed to be illiquid securities at the time of purchase.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risk typically associated with illiquid securities include: Liquidity Risk.

Inflation Protected Securities

Inflation is a general rise in prices of goods and services. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of an investor’s assets. For example, if an investment provides a total return of 7% in a given year and inflation is 3% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 4%. Inflation-protected securities are debt securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike debt securities that make fixed principal and interest payments. One type of inflation-protected debt security is issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal of these securities is adjusted for inflation as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban consumers and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy.

If the CPI falls, the principal value of inflation-protected securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Conversely, if the CPI rises, the principal value of inflation-protected securities will be adjusted upward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities will be increased. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the inflation-protected securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-indexed securities include inflation-related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

Other issuers of inflation-protected debt securities include other U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, corporations and foreign governments. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. Similarly, a Fund holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with inflation-protected securities include: Inflation Protected Securities Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Market Risk. In addition, inflation protected securities issued by non-U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities are subject to Credit Risk.

Initial Public Offerings

A Fund may invest in initial public offerings (IPOs) of common stock or other primary or secondary syndicated offerings of equity or debt securities issued by a corporate issuer. Fixed income funds frequently invest in these types of offerings of debt securities. A purchase of IPO securities often involves higher transaction costs than those associated with the purchase of securities already traded on exchanges or markets. A Fund may hold IPO securities for a period of time, or may sell them soon after the purchase. Investments in IPOs could have a magnified impact — either positive or negative — on a Fund’s performance while the Fund’s assets are relatively small. The impact of an IPO on a Fund’s performance may tend to diminish as the Fund’s assets grow. In circumstances when investments in IPOs make a significant contribution to a Fund’s performance, there can be no assurance that similar contributions from IPOs will continue in the future.

Although one or more risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with IPOs include: Initial Public Offering (IPO) Risk, Issuer risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk and Small Company Securities Risk.

 

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Inverse Floater

See Types of Investments — Derivatives — Index or Linked Securities (Structured Products) above.

Investments in Other Investment Companies (Including ETFs)

Investing in other investment companies may be a means by which a Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective. A Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive orders currently or in the future obtained by a Fund, or the investment company in which a Fund invests, from the SEC. These securities include shares of other open-end investment companies (i.e., mutual funds), closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and business development companies.

Except with respect to Funds structured as funds-of-funds or so-called master/feeder funds or other Funds whose strategies otherwise allow such investments, the 1940 Act generally requires that a fund limit its investments in another investment company or series thereof so that, as determined at the time a securities purchase is made: (i) no more than 5% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company; (ii) no more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities of other investment companies; and (iii) no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company or series thereof will be owned by a Fund or by companies controlled by a Fund. Such other investment companies may include ETFs, which are shares of publicly traded unit investment trusts, open-end funds or depositary receipts that may be passively managed (e.g., they seek to track the performance of specific indexes or companies in related industries) or they may be actively managed. The SEC has granted orders for exemptive relief to certain ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by other investment companies in excess of these limits.

ETFs are listed on an exchange and trade in the secondary market on a per-share basis, which allows investors to purchase and sell ETF shares at their market price throughout the day. Certain ETFs, such as passively managed ETFs, hold portfolios of securities that are designed to replicate, as closely as possible before expenses, the price and yield of a specified market index. The performance results of these ETFs will not replicate exactly the performance of the pertinent index due to transaction and other expenses, including fees to service providers borne by ETFs. ETF shares are sold and redeemed at net asset value only in large blocks called creation units and redemption units, respectively. The Funds’ ability to redeem redemption units may be limited by the 1940 Act, which provides that ETFs will not be obligated to redeem shares held by the Funds in an amount exceeding one percent of their total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.

Although a Fund may derive certain advantages from being able to invest in shares of other investment companies, such as to be fully invested, there may be potential disadvantages. Investing in other investment companies may result in higher fees and expenses for a Fund and its shareholders. A shareholder may be charged fees not only on Fund shares held directly but also on the investment company shares that a Fund purchases. Because these investment companies may invest in other securities, they are also subject to the risks associated with a variety of investment instruments as described in this SAI.

Under the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder, a Fund may purchase shares of affiliated funds, subject to certain conditions. Investing in affiliated funds may present certain actual or potential conflicts of interest. For more information about such actual and potential conflicts of interest, see Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with the securities of other investment companies include: Investing in Other Funds Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.

Money Market Instruments

Money market instruments include cash equivalents and short-term debt obligations which include: (i) bank obligations, including certificates of deposit (CDs), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances, and letters of credit of banks or savings and loan associations having capital surplus and undivided profits (as of the date of its most recently published annual financial statements) in excess of $100 million (or the equivalent in the instance of a foreign branch of a U.S. bank) at the date of investment; (ii) funding agreements; (iii) repurchase agreements; (iv) obligations of the United States, foreign countries and supranational entities, and each of their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities; (v) certain corporate debt securities, such as commercial paper, short-term corporate obligations and extendible commercial notes; (vi) participation interests; and (vii) municipal securities. Money market instruments may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations and may be privately placed or publicly offered. A Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated money market mutual funds, which invest primarily in money market instruments. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

With respect to money market securities, certain U.S. Government obligations are backed or insured by the U.S. Government, its agencies or its instrumentalities. Other money market securities are backed only by the claims paying ability or creditworthiness of the issuer.

 

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Bankers’ acceptances are marketable short-term credit instruments used to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods. They are termed “accepted” when a bank unconditionally guarantees their payment at maturity.

A Fund may invest its daily cash balance in Columbia Short-Term Cash Fund, a money market fund established for the exclusive use of the funds in the Columbia Fund Family and other institutional clients of the Investment Manager.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with money market instruments include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Money Market Fund Risk and Regulatory Risk.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities are a type of asset-backed security that represent interests in, or debt instruments backed by, pools of underlying mortgages. In some cases, these underlying mortgages may be insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies. Mortgage-backed securities entitle the security holders to receive distributions that are tied to the payments made on the underlying mortgage collateral (less fees paid to the originator, servicer, or other parties, and fees paid for credit enhancement), so that the payments made on the underlying mortgage collateral effectively pass through to such security holders. Mortgage-backed securities are created when mortgage originators (or mortgage loan sellers who have purchased mortgage loans from mortgage loan originators) sell the underlying mortgages to a special purpose entity in a process called a securitization. The special purpose entity issues securities that are backed by the payments on the underlying mortgage loans, and have a minimum denomination and specific term. Mortgage-backed securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Mortgage-backed securities may be issued or guaranteed by GNMA (also known as Ginnie Mae), FNMA (also known as Fannie Mae), or FHLMC (also known as Freddie Mac), but also may be issued or guaranteed by other issuers, including private companies. GNMA is a government-owned corporation that is an agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It guarantees, with the full faith and credit of the United States, full and timely payment of all monthly principal and interest on its mortgage-backed securities. Until recently, FNMA and FHLMC were government-sponsored corporations owned entirely by private stockholders. Both issue mortgage-related securities that contain guarantees as to timely payment of interest and principal but that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The value of the companies’ securities fell sharply in 2008 due to concerns that the firms did not have sufficient capital to offset losses. The U.S. Treasury has historically had the authority to purchase obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, in 2008, due to capitalization concerns, Congress provided the U.S. Treasury with additional authority to lend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac emergency funds and to purchase the companies’ stock, as described below. In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been placed in conservatorship.

In the past Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received significant capital support through U.S. Treasury preferred stock purchases and Federal Reserve purchases of their mortgage-backed securities. There can be no assurance that these or other agencies of the government will provide such support in the future. The future status of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could be impacted by, among other things, the actions taken and restrictions placed on Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s operations and activities under the senior stock purchase agreements, market responses to developments at Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership structure and/or mission of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Stripped mortgage-backed securities are a type of mortgage-backed security that receives differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the underlying assets. Generally, there are two classes of stripped mortgage-backed securities: Interest Only (IO) and Principal Only (PO). IOs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the interest on the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. POs entitle the holder to receive distributions consisting of all or a portion of the principal of the underlying pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. See Types of Investments — Stripped Securities for more information.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) are hybrid mortgage-related instruments issued by special purpose entities secured by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-related securities, such as mortgage pass-through securities or stripped mortgage-backed securities. CMOs may be structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. Principal prepayments on collateral underlying a CMO may cause it to be retired substantially earlier than its stated maturity or final distribution dates, resulting in a loss of all or part of the premium if any has been paid. The yield

 

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characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of other debt securities. Among the differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage-backed securities, usually monthly, and principal may be repaid at any time. These factors may reduce the expected yield. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a periodic basis. The principal and interest payments on the underlying mortgage assets may be allocated among the various classes of CMOs in several ways. Typically, payments of principal, including any prepayments, on the underlying mortgage assets are applied to the classes in the order of their respective stated maturities or final distribution dates, so that no payment of principal is made on CMOs of a class until all CMOs of other classes having earlier stated maturities or final distribution dates have been paid in full.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) are a specific type of mortgage-backed security collateralized by a pool of mortgages on commercial real estate.

CMO Residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances an ETF may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. Transactions in CMO residuals are generally completed only after careful review of the characteristics of the securities in question. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have been registered under the 1933 Act. CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the 1933 Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid” and subject to a Fund’s limitations on investment in illiquid securities.

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities are interests in pools of mortgage-related securities that differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs which may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.

REMICs are entities that own mortgages and elect REMIC status under the Code and, like CMOs, issue debt obligations collateralized by underlying mortgage assets that have characteristics similar to those issued by CMOs.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with mortgage and asset-backed securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset Backed Securities Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Reinvestment Risk.

Municipal Securities

Municipal securities include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to public institutions and facilities.

Municipal securities may include municipal bonds, municipal notes and municipal leases, which are described below. Municipal bonds are debt obligations of a governmental entity that obligate the municipality to pay the holder a specified sum of money at specified intervals and to repay the principal amount of the loan at maturity. Municipal securities can be classified into two principal categories, including “general obligation” bonds and other securities and “revenue” bonds and other securities. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of

 

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principal and interest. Revenue securities are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source, such as the user of the facility being financed. Municipal securities also may include “moral obligation” securities, which normally are issued by special purpose public authorities. If the issuer of moral obligation securities is unable to meet its debt service obligations from current revenues, it may draw on a reserve fund, the restoration of which is a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of the governmental entity that created the special purpose public authority. Municipal securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Municipal notes may be issued by governmental entities and other tax-exempt issuers in order to finance short-term cash needs or, occasionally, to finance construction. Most municipal notes are general obligations of the issuing entity payable from taxes or designated revenues expected to be received within the relevant fiscal period. Municipal notes generally have maturities of one year or less. Municipal notes can be subdivided into two sub-categories: (i) municipal commercial paper and (ii) municipal demand obligations.

Municipal commercial paper typically consists of very short-term unsecured negotiable promissory notes that are sold, for example, to meet seasonal working capital or interim construction financing needs of a governmental entity or agency. While these obligations are intended to be paid from general revenues or refinanced with long-term debt, they frequently are backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or institutions. See Types of Investments — Commercial Paper for more information.

Municipal demand obligations can be subdivided into two general types: variable rate demand notes and master demand obligations. Variable rate demand notes are tax-exempt municipal obligations or participation interests that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the notes. They permit the holder to demand payment of the notes, or to demand purchase of the notes at a purchase price equal to the unpaid principal balance, plus accrued interest either directly by the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit or guaranty issued with respect to such note. The issuer of the municipal obligation may have a corresponding right to prepay at its discretion the outstanding principal of the note plus accrued interest upon notice comparable to that required for the holder to demand payment. The variable rate demand notes in which a Fund may invest are payable, or are subject to purchase, on demand, usually on notice of seven calendar days or less. The terms of the notes generally provide that interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily to six months.

Master demand obligations are tax-exempt municipal obligations that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid and permit daily changes in the amount borrowed. The interest on such obligations is, in the opinion of counsel for the borrower, excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes (but not necessarily for alternative minimum tax purposes). Although there is no secondary market for master demand obligations, such obligations are considered by a Fund to be liquid because they are payable upon demand.

Municipal lease obligations are participations in privately arranged loans to state or local government borrowers and may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase, or a conditional sales contract. They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment, and facilities. An investor may purchase these obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such obligations. In general, municipal lease obligations are unrated, in which case they will be determined by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase to rated instruments that may be acquired by a Fund. Frequently, privately arranged loans have variable interest rates and may be backed by a bank letter of credit. In other cases, they may be unsecured or may be secured by assets not easily liquidated.

Moreover, such loans in most cases are not backed by the taxing authority of the issuers and may have limited marketability or may be marketable only by virtue of a provision requiring repayment following demand by the lender.

Municipal leases may be subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds. State constitutions and statutes set forth requirements that states or municipalities must meet in order to issue municipal obligations. Municipal leases may contain a covenant by the state or municipality to budget for and make payments due under the obligation. Certain municipal leases may, however, provide that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year.

Although lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipal issuer to which the government’s taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation ordinarily is backed by the government’s covenant to budget for, appropriate, and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the government has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a periodic basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, a Fund’s ability to recover under

 

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the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default likely will be limited to the repossession of the leased property in the event that foreclosure proves difficult.

Tender option bonds are municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates that is coupled with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, to grant the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. The financial institution receives periodic fees equal to the difference between the municipal security’s coupon rate and the rate that would cause the security to trade at face value on the date of determination.

There are variations in the quality of municipal securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, and the rates of return on municipal securities can depend on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. The ratings of NRSROs represent their opinions as to the quality of municipal securities. It should be emphasized, however, that these ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and municipal securities with the same maturity, interest rate, and rating may have different rates of return while municipal securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same rate of return. The municipal bond market is characterized by a large number of different issuers, many having smaller sized bond issues, and a wide choice of different maturities within each issue. For these reasons, most municipal bonds do not trade on a daily basis and many trade only rarely. Because many of these bonds trade infrequently, the spread between the bid and offer may be wider and the time needed to develop a bid or an offer may be longer than for other security markets. See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. (See Types of Investments — Debt Obligations .)

Standby Commitments. Standby commitments are securities under which a purchaser, usually a bank or broker-dealer, agrees to purchase, for a fee, an amount of a Fund’s municipal obligations. The amount payable by a bank or broker-dealer to purchase securities subject to a standby commitment typically will be substantially the same as the value of the underlying municipal securities. A Fund may pay for standby commitments either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities that are acquired subject to such a commitment.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with standby commitments include: Counterparty Risk, Market Risk and Municipal Securities Risk.

Taxable Municipal Obligations. Interest or other investment return is subject to federal income tax for certain types of municipal obligations for a variety of reasons. These municipal obligations do not qualify for the federal income tax exemption because (a) they did not receive necessary authorization for tax-exempt treatment from state or local government authorities, (b) they exceed certain regulatory limitations on the cost of issuance for tax-exempt financing or (c) they finance public or private activities that do not qualify for the federal income tax exemption. These non-qualifying activities might include, for example, certain types of multi-family housing, certain professional and local sports facilities, refinancing of certain municipal debt, and borrowing to replenish a municipality’s underfunded pension plan.

See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings. (See Types of Investments — Debt Obligations .)

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with municipal securities include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Market Risk, Municipal Securities Risk and Municipal Securities Risk/Health Care Sector Risk.

Participation Interests

Participation interests (also called pass-through certificates or securities) represent an interest in a pool of debt obligations, such as municipal bonds or notes that have been “packaged” by an intermediary, such as a bank or broker-dealer. Participation interests typically are issued by partnerships or trusts through which a Fund receives principal and interest payments that are passed through to the holder of the participation interest from the payments made on the underlying debt obligations. The purchaser of a participation interest receives an undivided interest in the underlying debt obligations. The issuers of the underlying debt obligations make interest and principal payments to the intermediary, as an initial purchaser, which are passed through to purchasers in the secondary market, such as a Fund. Mortgage-backed securities are a common type of participation interest. Participation interests may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, pay-in- kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations, Types of Investments — Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities and Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Loan participations also are a type of participation interest. Loans, loan participations, and interests in securitized loan pools are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to a lender or consortium of lenders (typically banks, insurance companies, investment banks, government agencies, or international agencies).

 

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Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with loan participations include: Confidential Information Access Risk, Credit Risk and Interest Rate Risk.

Partnership Securities

The Fund may invest in securities issued by publicly traded partnerships or master limited partnerships or limited liability companies (together referred to as “PTPs/MLPs”). These entities are limited partnerships or limited liability companies that may be publicly traded on stock exchanges or markets such as the NYSE, the NYSE Alternext US LLC (“NYSE Alternext”) (formerly the American Stock Exchange) and NASDAQ. PTPs/MLPs often own businesses or properties relating to energy, natural resources or real estate, or may be involved in the film industry or research and development activities. Generally PTPs/MLPs are operated under the supervision of one or more managing partners or members. Limited partners, unit holders, or members (such as a Fund that invests in a partnership) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the company. Limited partners, unit holders, or members are allocated income and capital gains associated with the partnership project in accordance with the terms of the partnership or limited liability company agreement.

At times PTPs/MLPs may potentially offer relatively high yields compared to common stocks. Because PTPs/MLPs are generally treated as partnerships or similar limited liability “pass-through” entities for tax purposes, they do not ordinarily pay income taxes, but pass their earnings on to unit holders (except in the case of some publicly traded firms that may be taxed as corporations). For tax purposes, unit holders may initially be deemed to receive only a portion of the distributions attributed to them because certain other portions may be attributed to the repayment of initial investments and may thereby lower the cost basis of the units or shares owned by unit holders. As a result, unit holders may effectively defer taxation on the receipt of some distributions until they sell their units. These tax consequences may differ for different types of entities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with partnership securities include: Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk and Market Risk.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock represents units of ownership of a corporation that frequently have dividends that are set at a specified rate. Preferred stock has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock shares some of the characteristics of both debt and equity. Preferred stock ordinarily does not carry voting rights. Most preferred stock is cumulative; if dividends are passed (i.e., not paid for any reason), they accumulate and must be paid before common stock dividends. Participating preferred stock entitles its holders to share in profits above and beyond the declared dividend, along with common shareholders, as distinguished from nonparticipating preferred stock, which is limited to the stipulated dividend. Convertible preferred stock is exchangeable for a given number of shares of common stock and thus tends to be more volatile than nonconvertible preferred stock, which generally behaves more like a fixed income bond. Preferred stock may be privately placed or publicly offered. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. See Types of Investments — Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities for more information.

Auction preferred stock (APS) is a type of adjustable-rate preferred stock with a dividend determined periodically in a Dutch auction process by corporate bidders. An APS is distinguished from standard preferred stock because its dividends change from time to time. Holders of APS may not be able to sell their shares if an auction fails, such as when there are more shares of APS for sale at an auction than there are purchase bids. Shares typically are bought and sold at face values generally ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per share.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with preferred stock include: Convertible Securities Risk, Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk and Market Risk.

Private Placement and Other Restricted Securities

Private placement securities are securities that have been privately placed and are not registered under the 1933 Act. They are generally eligible for sale only to certain eligible investors. Private placements often may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market. Private placement and other “restricted” securities often cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or they are “not readily marketable” because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale. Asset-backed securities, common stock, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, low and below investment grade securities, money market instruments, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, preferred stock and other types of equity and debt instruments may be privately placed or restricted securities.

Private placements typically may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers (or, in the case of the initial sale of certain securities, such as those issued in collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations, to accredited investors (as

 

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defined in Rule 501(a) under the 1933 Act), or in a privately negotiated transaction or to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with private placement and other restricted securities include: Issuer Risk, Liquidity Risk, Market Risk and Confidential Information Access Risk.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are pooled investment vehicles that manage a portfolio of real estate or real estate related loans to earn profits for their shareholders. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property, such as shopping centers, nursing homes, office buildings, apartment complexes, and hotels, and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs can be subject to extreme volatility due to fluctuations in the demand for real estate, changes in interest rates, and adverse economic conditions.

Partnership units of real estate and other types of companies sometimes are organized as master limited partnerships in which ownership interests are publicly traded.

Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Code. The failure of a REIT to continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes can materially affect its value. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by a REIT in which it invests. REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the calendar year-end. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for a Fund investing in REITs to request permission to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV beyond January 31. In the alternative, amended Forms 1099-DIV may be sent.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with REITs include: Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Real Estate-Related Investment Risk.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are agreements under which a Fund acquires a security for a relatively short period of time (usually within seven days) subject to the obligation of a seller to repurchase and a Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price (representing the Fund’s cost plus interest). The repurchase agreement specifies the yield during the purchaser’s holding period. Repurchase agreements also may be viewed as loans made by a Fund that are collateralized by the securities subject to repurchase, which may consist of a variety of security types. A Fund typically will enter into repurchase agreements only with commercial banks, registered broker-dealers and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Such transactions are monitored to ensure that the value of the underlying securities will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including any accrued interest.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with repurchase agreements include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Repurchase Agreements Risk.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements under which a Fund temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash. At the same time, the Fund agrees to repurchase the instrument at an agreed-upon time (normally within 7 days) and price which reflects an interest payment. A Fund generally retains the right to interest and principal payments on the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as borrowings made by a Fund.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with reverse repurchase agreements include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk.

Short Sales

A Fund may sometimes sell securities short when it owns an equal amount of the securities sold short. This is a technique known as selling short “against the box.” If a Fund makes a short sale “against the box,” it would not immediately deliver the securities sold and would not receive the proceeds from the sale. The seller is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers the securities sold, at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale. To secure its obligation to deliver securities sold short, a Fund will deposit in escrow in a separate account with the custodian an equal amount of the securities

 

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sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities. A Fund can close out its short position by purchasing and delivering an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than by delivering securities already held by a Fund, because a Fund might want to continue to receive interest and dividend payments on securities in its portfolio that are convertible into the securities sold short.

Short sales “against the box” entail many of the same risks and considerations described below regarding short sales not “against the box.” However, when a Fund sells short “against the box” it typically limits the amount of its effective leverage. A Fund’s decision to make a short sale “against the box” may be a technique to hedge against market risks when a Fund’s portfolio manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by a Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. In such case, any future losses in a Fund’s long position would be reduced by a gain in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses in the long position are reduced will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount of the securities a Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where a Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the investment values or conversion premiums of such securities. Short sales may have adverse tax consequences to a Fund and its shareholders.

Subject to its fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, a Fund may engage in short sales that are not “against the box,” which are sales by a Fund of securities, contracts or instruments that it does not own in hopes of purchasing the same security, contract or instrument at a later date at a lower price. The technique is also used to protect a profit in a long-term position in a security, commodity futures contract or other instrument. To make delivery to the buyer, a Fund must borrow or purchase the security. If borrowed, a Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed from the third party, so a Fund must purchase the security at the market price at a later time. If the price of the security has increased during this time, then a Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price of the security from the time of the short sale plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. (Until the security is replaced, a Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, a Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet the margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.) Short sales of forward commitments and derivatives do not involve borrowing a security. These types of short sales may include futures, options, contracts for differences, forward contracts on financial instruments and options such as contracts, credit-linked instruments, and swap contracts.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with short sales include: Leverage Risk, Market Risk and Short Selling Risk.

Sovereign Debt

Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. It may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. (See also Types of Investments — Foreign Securities .) In addition, there may be no legal recourse against a sovereign debtor in the event of a default.

Sovereign debt includes Brady Bonds, which are securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan, an initiative announced by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady in 1989 as a mechanism for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external commercial bank indebtedness.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with sovereign debt include: Credit Risk, Emerging Markets Securities Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.

Standby Commitments

See Types of Investments — Municipal Securities above.

Stripped Securities

Stripped securities are the separate income or principal payments of a debt security and evidence ownership in either the future interest or principal payments on an instrument. There are many different types and variations of stripped securities. For example, Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities (STRIPS) can be component parts of a U.S. Treasury security where the principal and interest components are traded independently through DTC, a clearing agency registered pursuant to Section 17A of the 1934 Act and created to hold securities for its participants, and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic computerized book-entries, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Treasury Investor Growth Receipts (TIGERs) are

 

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U.S. Treasury securities stripped by brokers. Stripped mortgage-backed securities, (SMBS) also can be issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies. Stripped securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.

SMBS usually are structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions from a pool of mortgage-backed assets. Common types of SMBS will be structured so that one class receives some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage-backed assets, while another class receives most of the interest and the remainder of the principal.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with stripped securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk and Stripped Securities Risk.

Trust-Preferred Securities

Trust-preferred securities, also known as trust-issued securities, are securities that have characteristics of both debt and equity instruments and are typically treated by the Funds as debt investments.

Generally, trust-preferred securities are cumulative preferred stocks issued by a trust that is created by a financial institution, such as a bank holding company. The financial institution typically creates the trust with the objective of increasing its capital by issuing subordinated debt to the trust in return for cash proceeds that are reflected on the financial institutions balance sheet.

The primary asset owned by the trust is the subordinated debt issued to the trust by the financial institution. The financial institution makes periodic interest payments on the debt as discussed further below. The financial institution will subsequently own the trust’s common securities, which may typically represent a small percentage of the trust’s capital structure. The remainder of the trust’s capital structure typically consists of trust-preferred securities which are sold to investors. The trust uses the sales proceeds to purchase the subordinated debt issued by the financial institution. The financial institution uses the proceeds from the subordinated debt sale to increase its capital while the trust receives periodic interest payments from the financial institution for holding the subordinated debt.

The trust uses the interest received to make dividend payments to the holders of the trust-preferred securities. The dividends are generally paid on a quarterly basis and are often higher than other dividends potentially available on the financial institution’s common stocks. The interests of the holders of the trust-preferred securities are senior to those of common stockholders in the event that the financial institution is liquidated, although their interests are typically subordinated to those of other holders of other debt issued by the institution.

The primary benefit for the financial institution in using this particular structure is that the trust-preferred securities issued by the trust are treated by the financial institution as debt securities for tax purposes (as a consequence of which the expense of paying interest on the securities is tax deductible), but are treated as more desirable equity securities for purposes of the calculation of capital requirements.

In certain instances, the structure involves more than one financial institution and thus, more than one trust. In such a pooled offering, an additional separate trust may be created. This trust will issue securities to investors and use the proceeds to purchase the trust-preferred securities issued by other trust subsidiaries of the participating financial institutions. In such a structure, the trust-preferred securities held by the investors are backed by other trust-preferred securities issued by the trust subsidiaries.

If a financial institution is financially unsound and defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of the trust-preferred securities such as the Fund, as the trust typically has no business operations other than holding the subordinated debt issued by the financial institution(s) and issuing the trust-preferred securities and common stock backed by the subordinated debt.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with trust- preferred securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

U.S. Government and Related Obligations

U.S. Government obligations include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. Government or by various agencies or instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government differ in their interest rates, maturities and time of issuance, as well as with respect to whether they are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. U.S. Government and related obligations may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations. See Types of Investments — Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations for more information.

 

 

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Investing in U.S. Government and related obligations is subject to certain risks. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality and, as a result, may be subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises historically have involved limited risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to any of these entities if it is not obligated to do so by law.

Government-sponsored entities issuing securities include privately owned, publicly chartered entities created to reduce borrowing costs for certain sectors of the economy, such as farmers, homeowners, and students. They include the Federal Farm Credit Bank System, Farm Credit Financial Assistance Corporation, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA), and Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Government-sponsored entities may issue discount notes (with maturities ranging from overnight to 360 days) and bonds. On Sept. 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), an agency of the U.S. Government, placed the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae into conservatorship, a statutory process with the objective of returning the entities to normal business operations. FHFA will act as the conservator to operate the enterprises until they are stabilized.

On August 5, 2011, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating for the United States of America to “AA+” from “AAA”. Because a Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations, the value of a Fund’s shares may be adversely affected by S&P’s downgrade or any future downgrades of the U.S. Government’s credit rating. While the long-term impact of the downgrade is uncertain. See Appendix A for a description of securities ratings.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with U.S. Government and related obligations include: Credit Risk, Inflation Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Prepayment and Extension Risk, Reinvestment Risk and U.S. Government Obligations Risk.

Variable- and Floating-Rate Obligations

Variable- and floating-rate obligations are debt instruments that provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate and, under certain circumstances, varying principal amounts. Unlike a fixed interest rate, a variable, or floating, rate is one that rises and declines based on the movement of an underlying index of interest rates and may pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically according to a specified formula. Variable- or floating-rate securities frequently include a demand feature enabling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par. In many cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time. Some securities that do not have variable or floating interest rates may be accompanied by puts producing similar results and price characteristics. Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes that are obligations that permit the investor to invest fluctuating amounts, which may change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the investor (as lender), and the borrower. The interest rates on these notes fluctuate. The issuer of such obligations normally has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified number of days’ notice to the holders of such obligations. Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments generally will be traded. There generally is not an established secondary market for these obligations. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the lender’s right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. Such obligations frequently are not rated by credit rating agencies and may involve heightened risk of default by the issuer. Asset-backed securities, bank obligations, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, low and below investment grade securities, money market instruments, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, stripped securities, U.S. Government and related obligations and other types of debt instruments may be structured as variable- and floating-rate obligations.

Most floating rate loans are acquired directly from the agent bank or from another holder of the loan by assignment. Most such loans are secured, and most impose restrictive covenants on the borrower. These loans are typically made by a syndicate of banks and institutional investors, represented by an agent bank which has negotiated and structured the loan and which is responsible generally for collecting interest, principal, and other amounts from the borrower on its own behalf and on behalf of the other lending institutions in the syndicate, and for enforcing its rights and the rights of the syndicate against the borrower. Each of the lending institutions, including the agent bank, lends to the borrower a portion of the total amount of the loan, and retains the corresponding interest in the loan. Floating rate loans may include delayed draw term loans and prefunded or synthetic letters of credit.

 

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A Fund’s ability to receive payments of principal and interest and other amounts in connection with loans held by it will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower. The failure by the Fund to receive scheduled interest or principal payments on a loan would adversely affect the income of the Fund and would likely reduce the value of its assets, which would be reflected in a reduction in the Fund’s net asset value. Banks and other lending institutions generally perform a credit analysis of the borrower before originating a loan or purchasing an assignment in a loan. In selecting the loans in which the Fund will invest, however, the Investment Manager will not rely on that credit analysis of the agent bank, but will perform its own investment analysis of the borrowers. The Investment Manager’s analysis may include consideration of the borrower’s financial strength and managerial experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. Investments in loans may be of any quality, including “distressed” loans, and will be subject to the Fund’s credit quality policy.

Loans may be structured in different forms, including assignments and participations. In an assignment, a Fund purchases an assignment of a portion of a lender’s interest in a loan. In this case, the Fund may be required generally to rely upon the assigning bank to demand payment and enforce its rights against the borrower, but would otherwise be entitled to all of such bank’s rights in the loan.

The borrower of a loan may, either at its own election or pursuant to terms of the loan documentation, prepay amounts of the loan from time to time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to reinvest the proceeds of any loan prepayment at the same interest rate or on the same terms as those of the original loan.

Corporate loans in which a Fund may purchase a loan assignment are made generally to finance internal growth, mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, stock repurchases, leveraged buy-outs, dividend payments to sponsors and other corporate activities. The highly leveraged capital structure of certain borrowers may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. The Fund may hold investments in loans for a very short period of time when opportunities to resell the investments that a Fund’s Portfolio Manager believes are attractive arise.

Certain of the loans acquired by a Fund may involve revolving credit facilities under which a borrower may from time to time borrow and repay amounts up to the maximum amount of the facility. In such cases, the Fund would have an obligation to advance its portion of such additional borrowings upon the terms specified in the loan assignment. To the extent that the Fund is committed to make additional loans under such an assignment, it will at all times designate cash or securities in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.

Notwithstanding its intention in certain situations to not receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in floating rate loans, the Investment Manager may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in a Fund’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite the Investment Manager’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances the Investment Manager may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). As, and to the extent, required by applicable law, the Investment Manager’s ability to trade in these loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Investment Manager’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.

In some instances, other accounts managed by the Investment Manager may hold other securities issued by borrowers whose floating rate loans may be held in a Fund’s portfolio. These other securities may include, for example, debt securities that are subordinate to the floating rate loans held in the Fund’s portfolio, convertible debt or common or preferred equity securities.

In certain circumstances, such as if the credit quality of the issuer deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the issuer’s floating rate loans. In such cases, the Investment Manager may owe conflicting fiduciary duties to the Fund and other client accounts. The Investment Manager will endeavor to carry out its obligations to all of its clients to the fullest extent possible, recognizing that in some cases certain clients may achieve a lower economic return, as a result of these conflicting client interests, than if the Investment Manager’s client accounts collectively held only a single category of the issuer’s securities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with variable- or floating-rate obligations include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Liquidity Risk and Prepayment and Extension Risk.

Warrants and Rights

Warrants and rights are types of securities that give a holder a right to purchase shares of common stock. Warrants usually are issued together with a bond or preferred stock and entitle a holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock at a

 

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specified price typically for a period of years. Rights usually have a specified purchase price that is lower than the current market price and entitle a holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock typically for a period of only weeks. Warrants may be used to enhance the marketability of a bond or preferred stock. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants may be considered to have more speculative characteristics than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date, if any.

The potential exercise price of warrants or rights may exceed their market price, such as when there is no movement in the market price or the market price of the common stock declines.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with warrants and rights include: Convertible Securities Risk, Credit Risk, Issuer Risk and Market Risk.

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

When-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions involve the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund, with payment and delivery taking place in the future after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Normally, the settlement date occurs within 45 days of the purchase although in some cases settlement may take longer. The investor does not pay for the securities or receive dividends or interest on them until the contractual settlement date. When engaging in when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, a Fund typically will designate liquid assets in an amount equal to or greater than the purchase price. The payment obligation and, if applicable, the interest rate that will be received on the securities, are fixed at the time that a Fund agrees to purchase the securities. A Fund generally will enter into when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions only with the intention of completing such transactions. However, a Fund’s portfolio manager may determine not to complete a transaction if he or she deems it appropriate to close out the transaction prior to its completion. In such cases, a Fund may realize short-term gains or losses.

To Be Announced Securities (“TBAs”). As with other delayed delivery transactions, a seller agrees to issue a TBA security at a future date. However, the seller does not specify the particular securities to be delivered. Instead, the Fund agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms. For example, in a TBA mortgage-backed security transaction, the Fund and the seller would agree upon the issuer, interest rate and terms of the underlying mortgages. The seller would not identify the specific underlying mortgages until it issues the security. TBA mortgage-backed securities increase market risks because the underlying mortgages may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund. See Types of Investments — Mortgage-Backed Securities and — Asset-Backed Securities.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions include: Counterparty Risk, Credit Risk and Market Risk.

Zero-Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Step-Coupon Securities

Zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities are types of debt instruments that do not necessarily make payments of interest in fixed amounts or at fixed intervals. Asset-backed securities, convertible securities, corporate debt securities, foreign securities, low and below investment grade securities, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, participation interests, stripped securities, U.S. Government and related obligations and other types of debt instruments may be structured as zero-coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities.

Zero-coupon securities do not pay interest on a current basis but instead accrue interest over the life of the security. These securities include, among others, zero-coupon bonds, which either may be issued at a discount by a corporation or government entity or may be created by a brokerage firm when it strips the coupons from a bond or note and then sells the bond or note and the coupon separately. This technique is used frequently with U.S. Treasury bonds, and zero-coupon securities are marketed under such names as CATS (Certificate of Accrual on Treasury Securities), TIGERs or STRIPS. Zero-coupon bonds also are issued by municipalities. Buying a municipal zero-coupon bond frees its purchaser of the obligation to pay regular federal income tax on imputed interest, since the interest is exempt for regular federal income tax purposes. Zero-coupon certificates of deposit and zero-coupon mortgages are generally structured in the same fashion as zero-coupon bonds; the certificate of deposit holder or mortgage holder receives face value at maturity and no payments until then.

Pay-in-kind securities normally give the issuer an option to pay cash at a coupon payment date or to give the holder of the security a similar security with the same coupon rate and a face value equal to the amount of the coupon payment that would have been made.

Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest that gradually increases over time. The coupon rate is paid according to a schedule for a series of periods, typically lower for an initial period and then

 

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increasing to a higher coupon rate thereafter. The discount from the face amount or par value depends on the time remaining until cash payments begin, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issue.

Zero-coupon, step-coupon and pay-in-kind securities holders generally have substantially all the rights and privileges of holders of the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations. Holders of these securities typically have the right upon default on the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations to proceed directly and individually against the issuer and are not required to act in concert with other holders of such securities.

See Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.

Although one or more of the other risks described in this SAI may also apply, the risks typically associated with zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind securities include: Credit Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Zero-Coupon Bonds Risk.

Information Regarding Risks

The following is a summary of risks of investing in the Funds and the risk characteristics associated with the various investment instruments available to the Funds for investment. A Fund’s risk profile is largely defined by the Fund’s primary portfolio holdings and principal investment strategies. However, most Funds are allowed to use certain other strategies and investments that may have different risk characteristics. Accordingly, one or more of the following types of risk may be associated with a Fund at any time (for a description of principal risks and investment strategies for an individual Fund, please see that Fund’s prospectus):

Active Management Risk. Performance of actively managed Funds will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to select investments and to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the Fund’s investment objective. Due to a Fund’s active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies. A Fund may fail to achieve its investment objective and you may lose money.

Allocation Risk. There is a risk that a Fund’s allocation among asset classes, investments, managers, strategies and/or investment styles will cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or cause the Fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective and/or strategies, or that the investments themselves will not produce the returns expected.

Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of the Fund’s asset-backed securities may be affected by, among other things, changes in interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the receivables, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market’s assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Asset-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit card, auto, student and home equity loans. They may also be backed by securities backed by these types of loans and others, such as mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Most asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying debt may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of asset-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of asset-backed securities, resulting in valuations that are volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Changing Distribution Level Risk. The amount of the distributions paid by the Fund will vary and generally depends on the amount of interest income and/or dividends received by the Fund on the securities it holds. The Fund may not be able to pay distributions or may have to reduce its distribution level if the interest income and/or dividends the Fund receives from its investments decline.

Commodity-related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include demand for the commodity, weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international, regulatory and other developments. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which may, in turn, reduce market prices and cause the value of Fund shares to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to commodities and commodities markets may subject the value of the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than other types of investments. No, or limited, active trading market may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. In addition, adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities investments. Certain types of commodities instruments (such as commodity-linked swaps and commodity-linked structured notes) are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument may not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.

 

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Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Fund concentrates its investment in particular issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries or sectors, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of issuers, countries, geographic regions, industries, sectors or investments.

Confidential Information Access Risk. In managing the Fund, the Investment Manager normally will seek to avoid the receipt of material, non-public information (Confidential Information) about the issuers of floating rate loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund, or held in the Fund. In many instances, issuers of floating rate loans offer to furnish Confidential Information to prospective purchasers or holders of the issuer’s floating rate loans to help potential investors assess the value of the loan. The Investment Manager’s decision not to receive Confidential Information from these issuers may disadvantage the Fund as compared to other floating rate loan investors, and may adversely affect the price the Fund pays for the loans it purchases, or the price at which the Fund sells the loans. Further, in situations when holders of floating rate loans are asked, for example, to grant consents, waivers or amendments, the Investment Manager’s ability to assess the desirability of such consents, waivers or amendments may be compromised. For these and other reasons, it is possible that the Investment Manager’s decision under normal circumstances not to receive Confidential Information could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt securities, such as interest rate risk (i.e., the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (i.e., the risk that the issuer of a fixed-income security may or will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (i.e., the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock’s market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund’s return.

Counterparty Risk. The risk exists that a counterparty to a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, including making payments to the Fund. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other organizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financial services sector and, as a result, events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the borrower of a loan or the issuer of another debt security may or will default or otherwise become unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund. Rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain loans and other fixed-income securities to indicate their credit risk. The price of a loan or other debt security generally will fall if the borrower or the issuer defaults on its obligation to pay principal or interest, the rating agencies downgrade the credit rating of the borrower or the issuer or other news affects the market’s perception of the credit risk of the borrower or the issuer. If the issuer of a loan declares bankruptcy or is declared bankrupt, there may be a delay before the Fund can act on the collateral securing the loan, which may adversely affect the Fund. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan adverse to the holders of the loan, such as invalidating the loan, the lien on the collateral, the priority status of the loan, or ordering the refund of interest previously paid by the borrower. Any such actions by a court could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. If the Fund purchases unrated loans or other debt securities, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.

Non-investment grade loans or securities (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk”) have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade loans or securities. A default or expected default of a loan could also make it difficult for the Fund to sell the loan at a price approximating the value previously placed on it. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel. This may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect net asset value. Loans that have a lower priority for repayment in an issuer’s capital structure may involve a higher degree of overall risk than more senior loans of the same borrower.

Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, investment companies such as the Funds and their service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber -attacks. In general, cyber-attacks result from deliberate attacks but unintentional events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the

 

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unauthorized release of confidential information and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, a Fund or its adviser, subadviser(s), custodians, transfer agent, Selling Agents and/or other third party service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund may also incur substantial costs for cyber security risk management in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Funds have established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.

Depositary Receipts Risks. Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company and evidence of ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Depositary receipts involve the risks of other investments in foreign securities, including risks associated with investing in the particular country, including the political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events occurring in the country, as well as fluctuations in its currency. In addition, ADR holders may not have all the legal rights of shareholders and may experience difficulty in receiving shareholder communications.

Derivatives Risk. Losses involving derivative instruments may be substantial, because a relatively small price movement in the underlying security(ies), instrument, commodity, currency or index may result in a substantial loss for the Fund. In addition to the potential for increased losses, the use of derivative instruments may lead to increased volatility within the Fund. Derivatives will typically increase the Fund’s exposure to principal risks to which it is otherwise exposed, and may expose the Fund to additional risks, including correlation risk (related to hedging risk and is the risk that there may be an incomplete correlation between the hedge and the opposite position, which may result in increased or unanticipated losses), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), leverage risk (the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), and liquidity risk (it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price, each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. Below is more detailed information on certain derivatives expected to be utilized by the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Futures Contracts. The loss that may be incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures by the Fund may increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value. Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Futures contracts may be illiquid. The liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. Furthermore, exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a trading session by imposing a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Structured Notes Risk. The use of commodity-linked structured notes is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund’s investments in commodity-linked structured notes involve substantial risks, including risk of loss of interest and principal, lack of a secondary (i.e. liquid) market, and risk of greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and debt markets.

If payment of interest on a commodity-linked structured note is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might receive lower interest payments (or not receive any of the interest due) on its investments if there is a loss of value of the underlying investment. Further, to the extent that the amount of principal to be repaid upon maturity is linked to the value of a particular commodity, commodity index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive a portion (or any) of the principal at maturity of the investment or upon earlier exchange. At any time, the risk of loss associated with a particular structured note in the Fund’s portfolio may be significantly higher than the value of the note.

A liquid secondary market may not exist for the commodity-linked structured notes held in the Fund’s portfolio, which may make it difficult for the notes to be sold at a price acceptable to the portfolio managers or to accurately value them.

 

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Investment in commodity-linked structured notes also subjects the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

The value of the commodity-linked structured notes may fluctuate significantly because the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves volatile. Additionally, the particular terms of a commodity-linked structured note may create economic leverage by requiring payment by the issuer of an amount that is a multiple of the price increase or decrease of the underlying commodity, commodity index, or other economic variable. Economic leverage will increase the volatility of the value of these commodity-linked notes as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity, commodity index or other economic variable.

Derivatives Risk/Commodity-Linked Swaps Risk. The use of commodity-linked swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Commodity-linked swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of short swap transactions. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (the risk that swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swap Indexes Risk. A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make one or more payments to the second party, while the second party assumes the risk of certain defaults, generally a failure to pay on a referenced debt obligation or the bankruptcy of the obligation’s issuer. As such, a CDS generally enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event. A credit default index (CDX) is an index of CDS. Credit default swap indexes (CDSX) are swap agreements that are intended to track the performance of a CDX. CDSX allow an investor, such as the Fund, to manage credit risk or to take a position on a basket of debt obligations more efficiently than transacting in single name CDS. If a credit event occurs in one of the reference issuers, the protection is paid out through the delivery of the defaulted bond by the buyer of protection in return for payment of the notional value of the defaulted bond by the seller of protection or through a cash settlement between the two parties. The reference issuer is then removed from the index. CDSX are subject to the risk that the Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default were to occur, any contractual remedies that the Fund may have may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could delay or limit the Fund’s recovery. Thus, if the counterparty under a CDSX defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays. The Fund’s return from investment in CDSX may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in CDSX could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of CDSX. If a referenced index has a dramatic intraday move that causes a material decline in the Fund’s net assets, the terms of the Fund’s CDSX may permit the counterparty to immediately close out the transaction. In that event, the Fund may be unable to enter into another CDSX or otherwise achieve desired exposure, even if the referenced index reverses all or a portion of its intraday move.

Derivatives Risk/Credit Default Swaps Risk. The use of credit default swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying securities, because swaps, among other factors, may be leveraged (creating leverage risk, the risk that losses from the derivative instrument may be greater than the amount invested in the derivative instrument) and subject the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (the risk that swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur.

 

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Derivatives Risk/Dollar Rolls Risk. Dollar rolls are transactions in which the Fund sells securities to a counterparty and simultaneously agrees to purchase those or similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price, or that the counterparty may default on its obligations. These transactions may also increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. If the Fund reinvests the proceeds of the security sold, the Fund will also be subject to the risk that the investments purchased with such proceeds will decline in value (a form of leverage risk).

Derivatives Risk/Forward Contracts. A forward is a contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today. Forwards are traded in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may purchase forward contracts, including those on mortgage-backed securities in the “to be announced” (TBA) market. In the TBA market, the seller agrees to deliver the mortgage backed securities for an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date, but makes no guarantee as to which or how many securities are to be delivered. Investments in forward contracts subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

Derivatives Risk/Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Risk. The use of forward foreign currency contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. These instruments are a type of derivative contract, whereby the Fund may agree to buy or sell a country’s or region’s currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These instruments may fall in value due to foreign market downswings or foreign currency value fluctuations. The effectiveness of any currency hedging strategy by a Fund may be reduced by the Fund’s inability to precisely match forward contract amounts and the value of securities involved. Forward foreign currency contracts used for hedging may also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase or decrease in the value of the currency. When entering into forward foreign currency contracts, unanticipated changes in the currency markets could result in reduced performance for the Fund. At or prior to maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been movement in forward contract prices. When the Fund converts its foreign currencies into U.S. dollars, it may incur currency conversion costs due to the spread between the prices at which it may buy and sell various currencies in the market. Investment in these instruments also subjects the Fund, among other factors, to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument).

Derivatives Risk/Forward Interest Rate Agreements Risk. Under forward interest rate agreements, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates (based on the notional value of the agreement). The Fund may act as a buyer or a seller. Investment in these instruments subjects the Fund to risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Futures Contracts Risk. The use of futures contracts is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. A futures contract is a sales contract between a buyer (holding the “long” position) and a seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred until a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into off-setting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. Moreover, to the extent the Fund engages in futures contracts on foreign exchanges, such exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. The loss that may be incurred in entering into futures contracts may exceed the amount of the premium paid and may be potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Additionally, as a result of the low collateral deposits normally involved in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund. Investment in these instruments involves risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset) and pricing risk (the risk that the instrument may be difficult to value), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

 

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Derivatives Risk/Inflation Rate Swaps Risk. An inflation rate swap is a derivative instrument used to transfer inflation risk from one party to another through an exchange of cash flows. In an inflation rate swap, one party pays a fixed rate on a notional principal amount, while the other party pays a floating rate linked to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Investments in inflation rate swaps subject the Fund (and, therefore, shareholders) to risks, including hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), and inflation risk (the risk that inflation rates may change drastically as a result of unexpected shifts in the global economy), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Interest Rate Swaps Risk. Interest rate swaps can be based on various measures of interest rates, including LIBOR, swap rates, treasury rates and other foreign interest rates. A swap agreement can increase or decrease the volatility of the Fund’s investments and its net asset value. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, and are, among other factors, subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (the risk that swaps may be difficult to value), liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price) and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Inverse Floaters Risk. Inverse floaters (or inverse variable or floating rate securities) are a type of derivative, long-term fixed income obligation with a variable or floating interest rate that moves in the opposite direction of short-term interest rates. As short-term interest rates go down, the holders of the inverse floaters receive more income and, as short-term interest rates go up, the holders of the inverse floaters receive less income. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark rate or the issuer’s credit quality. While inverse floaters tend to provide more income than similar term and credit quality fixed-rate bonds, they also exhibit greater volatility in price movement. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features and some may include market-dependent liquidity features that may present greater liquidity risk. Other risks associated with transactions in inverse floaters include interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates), counterparty risk (the risk that the issuer of a security may or will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments when due) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Options Risk. The use of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund may buy and sell call and put options, including options on currencies, interest rates and swap agreements (commonly referred to as swaptions), If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to sell the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price, and if the call option sold is not covered (for example, by owning the underlying asset), the Fund’s losses are potentially unlimited. Options may be traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. These transactions involve other risks, including counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument) and hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Swaps Risk. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the return, based upon an agreed-upon notional value, of a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference based upon an agreed-upon notional value. Swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. Such risk is heightened in the case of swap transactions involving short exposures. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in the underlying asset, because swaps may be leveraged (creating leverage risk in that the Fund’s exposure and potential losses are greater than the amount invested) and are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not

 

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eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (the risk that swaps may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Total Return Swaps Risk. The use of total return swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return of a defined underlying asset (such as an equity security or basket of such securities) or a non-asset reference (such as an index) during a specified period of time. In return, the other party makes periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Such transactions can have the potential for unlimited losses. The value of swaps, like many other derivatives, may move in unexpected ways and may result in losses for the Fund. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged, are subject to counterparty risk (the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or be able to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument), hedging risk (the risk that a hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset), pricing risk (the risk that it may be difficult to value) and liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price), each of which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund.

Derivatives Risk/Warrants Risk. Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. Warrants may be subject to the risk that the securities could lose value. There also is the risk that the potential exercise price may exceed the market price of the warrants or rights. Investment in these instruments also subject the Fund to liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), which may result in significant and unanticipated losses to the Fund).

Emerging Market Securities Risk. Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.

Operational and Settlement Risks of Securities in Emerging Markets. In addition to having less developed securities markets, banks in emerging markets that are eligible foreign sub-custodians may be recently organized, lack extensive operating experience or lack effective government oversight or regulation. In addition, there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of the Fund to recover assets held in custody by a foreign sub-custodian in the event of the bankruptcy of the sub-custodian. Because settlement systems may be less organized than in developed markets and because delivery versus payment settlement may not be possible or reliable, there may be a greater risk that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities of the Fund may be lost because of failures of or defects in the system, including fraud or corruption. Settlement systems in emerging markets also have a higher risk of failed trades. Ownership of Russian securities poses particular risks because ownership records are typically maintained in a decentralized fashion by registrars who may not be subject to effective governmental supervision leading to the possibility that the Fund may lose its ownership rights. In such a case, it may be difficult for the Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities.

Risks Related to Currencies and Corporate Actions in Emerging Markets. Risks related to currencies and corporate actions are also greater in emerging market countries than in developed countries. For example, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain currencies may not be traded internationally, or countries may have varying exchange rates. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience sustained periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates which can have negative effects on a country’s economy and securities markets. Corporate action procedures in emerging market countries may be less reliable and have limited or no involvement by the depositories and central banks. Lack of standard practices and payment systems can lead to significant delays in payment.

 

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Risks Related to Corporate and Securities Laws in Emerging Markets. Securities laws in emerging markets may be relatively new and unsettled and, consequently, there is a risk of rapid and unpredictable change in laws regarding foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and shareholder rights. Accordingly, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In addition, the systems of corporate governance to which issuers in certain emerging markets are subject may be less advanced than the systems to which issuers located in more developed countries are subject, and therefore, shareholders of such issuers may not receive many of the protections available to shareholders of issuers located in more developed countries. These risks may be heightened in Russia.

Equity-Linked Notes Risk. An equity-linked note (ELN) is a debt instrument whose value is based on the value of a single equity security, basket of equity securities or an index of equity securities (each, an Underlying Equity). An ELN typically provides interest income, thereby offering a yield advantage over investing directly in an Underlying Equity. The Fund may purchase ELNs that trade on a securities exchange or those that trade on the over-the-counter markets, including securities offered and sold under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Fund may also purchase an ELN in a privately negotiated transaction with the issuer of the ELN (or its broker-dealer affiliate). The Fund’s investment in ELNs has the potential to lead to significant losses because ELNs are subject to the market and volatility risks associated with their Underlying Equity, and to additional risks not typically associated with investments in listed equity securities, such as liquidity risk, credit risk of the issuer and concentration risk. The liquidity of unlisted ELNs is normally determined by the willingness of the issuer to make a market in the ELN. While the Fund will seek to purchase ELNs only from issuers that it believes to be willing to, and capable of, repurchasing the ELN at a reasonable price, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell any ELN at such a price or at all. This may impair the Fund’s ability to enter into other transactions at a time when doing so might be advantageous. In addition, because ELNs often take the form of unsecured notes of the issuer, the Fund would be subject to the risk that the issuer may default on its obligations under the ELN, thereby subjecting the Fund to the further risk of being too concentrated in the securities (including ELNs) of that issuer. The Fund may or may not hold an ELN until its maturity.

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Risk. An ETF’s share price may not track its specified market index (if any) and may trade below its net asset value. Certain ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and will not attempt to take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets. Other ETFs in which the Fund may invest are actively managed ETFs (i.e., they do not track a particular benchmark), which subjects the Fund to active management risk. An active secondary market in an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions or other reasons. There can be no assurance an ETF’s shares will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses incurred through ownership of the ETF.

The Funds generally expect to purchase shares of ETFs through broker-dealers in transactions on a securities exchange, and in such cases the Funds will pay customary brokerage commissions for each purchase and sale. Shares of an ETF may also be acquired by depositing a specified portfolio of the ETF’s underlying securities, as well as a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends of the securities (net of expenses) up to the time of deposit, with the ETF’s custodian, in exchange for which the ETF will issue a quantity of new shares sometimes referred to as a “creation unit”. Similarly, shares of an ETF purchased on an exchange may be accumulated until they represent a creation unit, and the creation unit may be redeemed in kind for a portfolio of the underlying securities (based on the ETF’s net asset value) together with a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends as of the date of redemption. The Funds may redeem creation units for the underlying securities (and any applicable cash), and may assemble a portfolio of the underlying securities (and any required cash) to purchase creation units. The Funds’ ability to redeem creation units may be limited by the 1940 Act, which provides that ETFs the shares of which are purchased in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act will not be obligated to redeem such shares in an amount exceeding one percent of their total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.

Foreign Currency Risk. The performance of the Fund may be materially affected positively or negatively by foreign currency strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly if the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.

Foreign Currency-Related Tax Risk. As a regulated investment company (RIC), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as “qualifying income” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund may gain exposure to local currency markets through forward currency contracts. Although foreign currency gains currently constitute “qualifying income,” the Treasury Department has the authority to issue regulations excluding from the definition of “qualifying income” a RIC’s foreign currency gains not “directly related” to its “principal business” of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect thereto). Such regulations might treat gains

 

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from some of the Fund’s foreign currency-denominated positions as not qualifying income and there is a remote possibility that such regulations might be applied retroactively, in which case, the Fund might not qualify as a RIC for one or more years. In the event the Treasury Department issues such regulations, the Fund’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or the Fund’s liquidation.

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may impact the value of foreign securities, without a change in the intrinsic value of those securities. Foreign securities may also be less liquid than domestic securities so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income and capital gain on foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s yield on such securities. Other risks include possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events; possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets; possible imposition of currency exchange controls; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; and the relatively less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks.

Operational and Settlement Risks of Foreign Securities. The Fund’s foreign securities are generally held outside the United States in the primary market for the securities in the custody of certain eligible foreign banks and trust companies (foreign sub-custodians), as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940.Settlement practices for foreign securities may differ from those in the United States. Some countries have limited governmental oversight and regulation of industry practices, stock exchanges, depositories, registrars, brokers and listed companies, which increases the risk of corruption and fraud and the possibility of losses to the Fund. In particular, under certain circumstances, foreign securities may settle on a delayed delivery basis, meaning that the Fund may be required to make payment for securities before the Fund has actually received delivery of the securities or deliver securities prior to the receipt of payment. Typically, in these cases, the Fund will receive evidence of ownership in accordance with the generally accepted settlement practices in the local market entitling the Fund to delivery or payment at a future date, but there is a risk that the security will not be delivered to the Fund or that payment will not be received, although the Fund and its foreign sub-custodians take reasonable precautions to mitigate this risk. Losses can also result from lost, stolen or counterfeit securities; defaults by brokers and banks; failures or defects of the settlement system; or poor and improper record keeping by registrars and issuers.

Share Blocking. Share blocking refers to a practice in certain foreign markets under which an issuer’s securities are blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting where a vote of shareholders takes place. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. Share blocking may prevent the Fund from buying or selling securities during this period, because during the time shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. It may be difficult or impossible to lift blocking restrictions, with the particular requirements varying widely by country. As a consequence of these restrictions, the Investment Manager, on behalf of the Fund, may abstain from voting proxies in markets that require share blocking.

Fund-of-Funds Risk. There is risk that the Fund portfolio managers’ investment determinations regarding asset classes or underlying funds and the Fund’s allocations thereto may not be successful, in whole or in part. There is also a risk that the selected underlying funds’ performance may be lower than the performance of the asset class they were selected to represent or may be lower than the performance of alternative underlying funds that could have been selected to represent the asset class. The Fund also is exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in direct proportion to the allocation of its assets among the underlying funds. The ability of the Fund to realize its investment objective(s) will depend, in large part, on the extent to which the underlying funds realize their investment objective. There is no guarantee that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment objectives. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for a fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of a fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds.

 

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Geographic Concentration Risk. The Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within the specific geographic regions in which the Fund invests. Currency devaluations could occur in countries that have not yet experienced currency devaluation to date, or could continue to occur in countries that have already experienced such devaluations. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.

Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may be more sensitive to adverse economic or other circumstances or changes in current or expected earnings than the market values of other types of securities. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation. Their profitability can be affected significantly and adversely by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, government approval of medical products and services, competitive pricing pressures, an increased emphasis on outpatient and other alternative services and other factors. In many cases, patent protection is integral to the success of companies in the health care sector, and profitability can be affected materially by, among other things, the cost of obtaining (or failing to obtain) patent approvals, the cost of litigating patent infringement and the loss of patent protection for medical products (which significantly increases pricing pressures and can materially reduce profitability with respect to such products). Companies in the health care sector also potentially are subject to extensive product liability and other similar litigation. Companies in the health care sector are affected by the rising cost of medical products and services, and the effects of such rising costs can be particularly pronounced for companies that are dependent on a relatively limited number of products or services. Medical products also frequently become obsolete due to industry innovation or other causes. Because the Fund invests a significant portion of its net assets in the equity securities of health care companies, the Fund’s price may be more volatile than a fund that is invested in a more diverse range of companies in different market sectors.

High-Yield Securities Risk. Securities with the lowest investment grade rating, securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated securities and may react more to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates.

These investments have greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These securities typically pay a premium — a higher interest rate or yield — because of the increased risk of loss, including default. These securities may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities. The securities ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the securities and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated securities are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated securities.

Highly Leveraged Transactions Risk. The loans or other securities in which the Fund invests may consist of transactions involving refinancings, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and other financings for general corporate purposes. The Fund’s investments also may include senior obligations of a borrower issued in connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (commonly known as “debtor-in-possession” financings), provided that such senior obligations are determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be a suitable investment for the Fund. In such highly leveraged transactions, the borrower assumes large amounts of debt in order to have the financial resources to attempt to achieve its business objectives. Such business objectives may include but are not limited to: management’s taking over control of a company (leveraged buy-out); reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a company (leveraged recapitalization); or acquiring another company. Loans or securities that are part of highly leveraged transactions involve a greater risk (including default and bankruptcy) than other investments.

Impairment of Collateral Risk. The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, and may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult or costly to liquidate. In addition, the Fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, certain floating rate and other loans may not be fully collateralized and may decline in value.

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the uncertainty over the future real value (after inflation) of an investment. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and the Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors.

 

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Inflation-Protected Securities Risk. Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates can be described as nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-protected debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-protected debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments. Income earned by a shareholder depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation unless the shareholder reinvests the portion of Fund distributions that comes from inflation adjustments. The Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.

Initial Public Offering (IPO) Risk. IPOs are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. To the extent the Fund determines to invest in IPOs, it may not be able to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO are available to the Fund. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able to do so. In addition, as the Fund increases in size, the impact of IPOs on the Fund’s performance will generally decrease. IPOs sold within 12 months of purchase may result in increased short-term capital gains, which will be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income.

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but may affect the value of the Fund’s shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate changes also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. Securities with floating interest rates are typically less sensitive to interest rate changes, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much as interest rates in general. Because rates on certain floating rate loans and other debt securities reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value.

Investing in Other Funds Risk. The Fund’s investment in other funds (affiliated and/or unaffiliated funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) subjects the Fund to the investment performance (positive or negative) and risks of these underlying funds in direct proportion to the Fund’s investment therein. The performance of underlying funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for the Fund. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of another fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds, as well as a potential conflict in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated funds.

Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and therefore, the value of its securities may decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.

Leverage Risk. Leverage occurs when the Fund increases its assets available for investment using borrowings, short sales, derivatives, or similar instruments or techniques. The use of leverage may make any change in the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) even greater and thus result in increased volatility of returns. Short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, the Fund’s short sales effectively leverage the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s assets that are used as collateral to secure the Fund’s obligations to return the securities sold short may decrease in value while the short positions are outstanding, which may force the Fund to use its other assets to increase the collateral. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund’s overall returns. Leverage presents the opportunity for increased net income and capital gains, but also exaggerates the Fund’s risk of loss. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments which may make it difficult to sell the investment at a desirable time or price. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments.

 

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Market Risk. Market risk refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. Security values may fall or fail to rise because of a variety of factors affecting (or the market’s perception of) individual companies (e.g., an unfavorable earnings report), industries or sectors, or the market as a whole, reducing the value of an investment in the Fund. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. The market values of the securities the Fund holds also can be affected by changes or perceived changes in U.S. or foreign economies and financial markets, and the liquidity of these securities, among other factors. In general, equity securities tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities. In addition, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.

Master Limited Partnership Risk. Investments in securities (units) of master limited partnerships involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of these units have more limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. These units may be subject to cash flow and dilution risks. There are also certain tax risks associated with such an investment. In particular, the Fund’s investment in master limited partnerships can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and can limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of a master limited partnership, including a conflict arising as a result of incentive distribution payments. In addition, there are risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.

Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies (mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have more risk than securities of larger capitalization companies (larger companies). For example, mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be difficult and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.

Money Market Fund Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of investments at $1.00 per share, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. To the extent these fees and expenses are expected to equal or exceed 0.01% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, they will be reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses set forth in the table under “Fees and Expenses of the Fund.” By investing in a money market fund, the Fund will be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund in direct proportion to such investment. The money market fund may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund, through its investment in the money market fund, may not achieve its investment objective. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from the Fund’s investments in derivatives.

Mortgage- and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets, the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements, or the market’s assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying

 

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mortgage may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage-backed securities may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for a specific project or public facility. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political and legislative changes at the state or federal level. Municipal securities may be fully or partially backed by the taxing authority of the local government, by the credit of a private issuer, by the current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or by domestic or foreign entities providing credit support, such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance, and are generally classified into general obligation bonds and special revenue obligations. General obligation bonds are backed by an issuer’s taxing authority and may be vulnerable to limits on a government’s power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes. They may also depend for payment on legislative appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies. Revenue obligations are payable from revenues generated by a particular project or other revenue source, and are typically subject to greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects in sectors such as education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. Municipal securities generally pay interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel, is free from U.S. federal income tax (and, in some cases, the federal alternative minimum tax). There is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will agree with this opinion or that U.S. federal income tax law will not change. In the event the IRS determines that the issuer does not comply with relevant tax requirements or U.S. federal income tax law changes, interest payments from a security could become federally taxable, possibly retroactively to the date the security was issued, and the value of the security would likely fall. As a shareholder of the Fund, you may be required to file an amended tax return and pay additional taxes as a result. The amount of publicly available information for municipal issuers is generally less than for corporate issuers.

Preferred Stock Risk. Preferred stock is a type of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred stock is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the stock trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred stock include Issuer Risk, Market Risk and Interest Rate Risk.

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. This risk is primarily associated with asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities and floating rate loans. If the investment is converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, particularly during a time of declining interest rates or spreads, the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Conversely, as interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases and the maturity of the investment may extend. The portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads because the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower rate for a longer period of time.

Quantitative Model Risk. The Fund may use quantitative methods to select investments. Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, and changing sources of market returns, among others. Any errors or imperfections in the Fund portfolio manager’s quantitative analyses or models, or in the data on which they are based, could adversely affect the portfolio manager’s effective use of such analyses or models, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that these methodologies will enable the Fund to achieve its objective.

Real Estate-Related Investment Risk. Investment in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and in securities of other companies (wherever organized) principally engaged in the real estate industry subjects the Fund to, among other risks, risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general, including risks related to general and local economic conditions, possible lack of availability of financing and changes in interest rates or property values. REITs are entities that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, and also may include operating or finance companies. The value of REIT shares is affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT, by changes in the prospect for earnings and/or cash flow growth of the REIT itself, defaults by borrowers or tenants, market saturation, decreases in market rates for rents, and other economic, political, or regulatory matters affecting the real

 

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estate industry, including REITs. REITs and similar non-U.S. entities depend upon specialized management skills, may have limited financial resources, may have less trading volume in their securities, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities markets. REITs are also subject to the risk of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income. Some REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are affected by risks similar to those associated with investments in debt securities including changes in interest rates and the quality of credit extended.

Redemption Risk. The Fund may need to sell portfolio securities to meet redemption requests. The Fund could experience a loss when selling portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if there is (i) significant redemption activity by shareholders, including, for example, when a single investor or few large investors make a significant redemption of Fund shares, (ii) a disruption in the normal operation of the markets in which the Fund buys and sells portfolio securities or (iii) the inability of the Fund to sell portfolio securities because such securities are illiquid. In such events, the Fund could be forced to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices in an effort to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. The Fund may suspend redemptions or the payment of redemption proceeds when permitted by applicable regulations.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by the Fund. In addition, the SEC has proposed amendments to money market regulation. These changes may have a significant impact on the operation of money market funds, which may, among other things, reduce yield.

Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the Fund will not be able to reinvest income or principal at the same return it is currently earning.

Repurchase Agreements Risk. Repurchase agreements are agreements in which the seller of a security to the Fund agrees to repurchase that security from the Fund at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Repurchase agreements carry the risk that the counterparty may not fulfill its obligations under the agreement. This could cause the Fund’s income and the value of your investment in the Fund to decline.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements in which a Fund sells a security to a counterparty, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at a mutually agreed upon price and time. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the security sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund must repurchase the security. Reverse repurchase agreements also may be viewed as a form of borrowing.

Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest significantly in Rule 144A securities that are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could affect adversely the marketability of such securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. Accordingly, even if determined to be liquid, the Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists.

Sector Risk. At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, making the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. The more a fund diversifies its investments, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.

Short Positions Risk. The Fund may establish short positions which introduce more risk to the Fund than long positions (where the Fund owns the instrument) because the maximum sustainable loss on an instrument purchased (held long) is limited to the amount paid for the instrument plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum price of the shorted instrument when purchased in the open market. Therefore, in theory, short positions have unlimited risk. The Fund’s use of short positions in effect “leverages” the Fund. Leverage potentially exposes the Fund to greater risks of loss due to unanticipated market movements, which may magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns. To the extent the Fund takes a short position in a derivative instrument, this involves the risk of a potentially unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument.

Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) can, in certain circumstances, have a higher potential for gains than securities of larger, more established companies (larger companies) but may also have more risk. For example, small- and mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to market downturns and adverse business or economic events than larger companies because they may have more limited financial resources and business operations. Small- and mid-cap companies are also more likely than larger

 

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companies to have more limited product lines and operating histories and to depend on smaller management teams. Securities of small- and mid-cap companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes and may be less liquid and fluctuate more sharply in value than securities of larger companies. When the Fund takes significant positions in small- and mid-cap companies with limited trading volumes, the liquidation of those positions, particularly in a distressed market, could be prolonged and result in Fund investment losses. In addition, some small- and mid-cap companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which can lower the demand for their stocks.

Sovereign Debt Risk. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.

With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis and that has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness to the detriment of debt-holders. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.

Special Situations Risk. Securities of companies that are involved in an initial public offering or a major corporate event, such as a business consolidation or restructuring, may present special risk because of the high degree of uncertainty that can be associated with such events. Securities issued in initial public offerings often are issued by companies that are in the early stages of development, have a history of little or no revenues and may operate at a loss following the offering. It is possible that there will be no active trading market for the securities after the offering, and that the market price of the securities may be subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations. Investing in special situations may have a magnified effect on the performance of funds with small amounts of assets.

Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of debt securities. These securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, and therefore subject to greater fluctuations in price than typical interest bearing debt securities. For example, stripped mortgage-backed securities have greater interest rate risk than mortgage-backed securities with like maturities, and stripped treasury securities have greater interest rate risk than traditional government securities with identical credit ratings.

Technology and Technology-Related Investment Risk. Companies in the technology sector and technology-related sectors are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as aggressive pricing of their products or services, new market entrants, competition for market share, short product cycles due to an accelerated rate of technological developments and the potential for limited earnings and/or falling profit margins. These companies also face the risks that new services, equipment or technologies will not be accepted by consumers and businesses or will become rapidly obsolete. These factors can affect the profitability of these companies and, as a result, the value of their securities. Also, patent protection is integral to the success of many companies in these sectors, and profitability can be affected materially by, among other things, the cost of obtaining (or failing to obtain) patent approvals, the cost of litigating patent infringement and the loss of patent protection for products (which significantly increases pricing pressures and can materially reduce profitability with respect to such products). In addition, many technology companies have limited operating histories. Prices of these companies’ securities historically have been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term. If a Fund concentrates its investments (or, invests a significant portion of its net assets in securities of technology and technology-related companies), the Fund’s price may be more volatile than a fund that is invested in a more diverse range of market sectors.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government, such securities are nonetheless subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that the U.S. Government may be, or may be perceived to be, unable or unwilling to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments). Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or authorities and U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities or enterprises may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. For example, securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Banks are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency, authority, instrumentality or enterprise and, as a result, are subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.

Zero-Coupon Bonds Risk. Zero-coupon bonds are bonds that do not pay interest in cash on a current basis, but instead accrue interest over the life of the bond. As a result, these securities are issued at a discount and their values may fluctuate more than the values of similar securities that pay interest periodically. Although these securities pay no interest to holders prior to maturity, interest accrued on these securities is reported as income to the Fund and affects the amounts distributed to its

 

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shareholders, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.

Borrowings

In general, pursuant to the 1940 Act, a Fund may borrow money only from banks in an amount not exceeding 33  1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount must be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33  1 / 3 % limitation.

The Funds participate in a committed line of credit (Line of Credit). Any advance under the Line of Credit is contemplated primarily for temporary or emergency purposes.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

To generate additional income, a Fund may lend up to 33%, or such lower percentage specified by the Fund or Adviser of the value of its total assets (including securities out on loan) to broker-dealers, banks or other institutional borrowers of securities. JPMorgan serves as lending agent (the Lending Agent) to the Funds pursuant to a securities lending agreement (the Securities Lending Agreement) approved by the Board. Under the Securities Lending Agreement, the Lending Agent loans securities to approved borrowers pursuant to borrower agreements in exchange for collateral. Collateral may consist of cash, securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities (collectively, “U.S. Government securities”) or such other collateral as may be approved by the Board. For loans secured by cash, the Fund retains the interest earned on cash collateral investments, but is required to pay the borrower a rebate for the use of the cash collateral. For loans secured by U.S. Government securities, the borrower pays a borrower fee to the Lending Agent on behalf of the Fund. If the market value of the loaned securities goes up, the Lending Agent will require additional collateral from the borrower.

If the market value of the loaned securities goes down, the borrower may request that some collateral be returned. During the existence of the loan, the lender will receive from the borrower amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, as well as interest on such amounts.

Loans are subject to termination by a Fund or a borrower at any time. A Fund may choose to terminate a loan in order to vote in a proxy solicitation if the Fund has knowledge of a material event to be voted on that would affect the Fund’s investment in the loaned security.

Securities lending involves counterparty risk, including the risk that a borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or return the loaned securities in a timely manner. Counterparty risk also includes a potential loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower or the Lending Agent defaults or fails financially. This risk is increased if a Fund’s loans are concentrated with a single borrower or limited number of borrowers. There are no limits on the number of borrowers a Fund may use and a Fund may lend securities to only one or a small group of borrowers. Funds participating in securities lending also bear the risk of loss in connection with investments of cash collateral received from the borrowers. Cash collateral is invested in accordance with investment guidelines contained in the Securities Lending Agreement and approved by the Board. Some or all of the cash collateral received in connection with the securities lending program may be invested in one or more pooled investment vehicles, including, among other vehicles, money market funds managed by the Lending Agent (or its affiliates). The Lending Agent shares in any income resulting from the investment of such cash collateral, and an affiliate of the Lending Agent may receive asset-based fees for the management of such pooled investment vehicles, which may create a conflict of interest between the Lending Agent (or its affiliates) and the Fund with respect to the management of such cash collateral. To the extent that the value or return of a Fund’s investments of the cash collateral declines below the amount owed to a borrower, a Fund may incur losses that exceed the amount it earned on lending the security. The Lending Agent will indemnify a Fund from losses resulting from a borrower’s failure to return a loaned security when due, but such indemnification does not extend to losses associated with declines in the value of cash collateral investments. The Investment Manager is not responsible for any loss incurred by the Funds in connection with the securities lending program.

The Funds currently do not participate in the securities lending program, but the Board may determine to renew participation in the future.

 

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES

The Investment Manager and Subadvisers

Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the investment adviser of the Funds and also serves as the investment adviser and administrator of other funds in the Columbia Funds Family. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, which is located at 1099 Ameriprise Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474. Ameriprise Financial is a holding company, which primarily conducts business through its subsidiaries to provide financial planning, products and services that are designed to be utilized as solutions for clients’ cash and liquidity, asset accumulation, income, protection and estate and wealth transfer needs.

From time to time the Investment Manager may engage its investment advisory affiliates (Participating Affiliates) around the world to provide a variety of services such as, investment research, investment monitoring, trading and discretionary investment management (including portfolio management) to certain accounts managed by the Investment Manager, including the Fund. The Investment Manager expects to engage certain of its Threadneedle Investments affiliates to provide such services. These Participating Affiliates will provide services to the Investment Manager either pursuant to subadvisory agreements, personnel-sharing agreements or similar inter-company arrangements and the Investment Manager will bear any and all costs of such agreements. These Participating Affiliates, like the Investment Manager, are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Ameriprise and are registered with the appropriate respective regulators in their home jurisdictions and, where required, the SEC and the CFTC in the United States.

Pursuant to some of these arrangements, certain employees of these Participating Affiliates may serve as “associated persons” of the Investment Manager and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Investment Manager and consistent with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI may provide such services to the Fund on behalf of the Investment Manager.

Services Provided

Under the Investment Management Services Agreement, the Investment Manager has contracted to furnish each Fund with investment research and advice. For these services, unless otherwise noted, each Fund pays a monthly fee to the Investment Manager based on the average of the daily closing value of the total net assets of a Fund for such month. Under the Investment Management Services Agreement, any liability of the Investment Manager to the Trust, a Fund and/or its shareholders is limited to situations involving the Investment Manager’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. Neither the Investment Manager, nor any of its respective directors, officers, partners, principals, employees, or agents shall be liable for any acts or omissions or for any losses suffered by a Fund or its shareholders or creditors.

The Investment Management Services Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time on 60 days’ written notice by the Investment Manager or by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. The Investment Management Services Agreement will automatically terminate upon any assignment thereof, will continue in effect for two years from its initial effective date and thereafter will continue from year to year with respect to a Fund only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Investment Manager or the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Investment Manager pays all compensation of the Trustees and officers of the Trust who are employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates, except for the Chief Compliance Officer, a portion of whose salary is paid by the Columbia Funds Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Investment Manager and except to the extent required by law to be paid or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager does not have a duty to pay any Fund operating expense incurred in the organization and operation of a Fund, including, but not limited to, auditing, legal, custodial, investor servicing and shareholder reporting expenses. The Trust pays the cost of printing and mailing Fund prospectuses to shareholders.

The Investment Manager, at its own expense, provides office space, facilities and supplies, equipment and personnel for the performance of its functions under each Fund’s Investment Management Services Agreement.

Advisory Fee Rates Paid by the Funds

Each Fund, unless otherwise noted, pays the Investment Manager an annual fee for its investment advisory services, as set forth in the Investment Management Services Agreement, and as shown in the section entitled Fees and Expenses of the

 

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Fund  Annual Fund Operating Expenses in each Fund’s prospectuses. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund and is paid monthly. The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may from time to time waive fees and/or reimburse a Fund’s expenses. See the Funds’ prospectus for more information.

Investment Management Fee Rates. The Investment Manager receives a monthly investment advisory fee based on each Fund’s average daily net assets at the following annual rates:

Investment Management Services Agreement Fee Schedule

 

Fund  

Assets

(billions)

 

Annual rate at

each asset level

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  N/A   N/A

VP – Conservative Portfolio

   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

       

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

  First $1.0   0.480%

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

  Next $1.0   0.450%

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (a)

  Next $1.0   0.400%

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

  Over $3.0   0.375%

VP – Balanced Fund

  First $0.5   0.660%

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund (b)

  Next $0.5   0.615%
  Next $0.5   0.570%
  Next $1.5   0.520%
  Next $3.0   0.510%
    Over $6.0   0.490%

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

  First $1.0   0.440%
  Next $1.0   0.415%
  Next $1.0   0.390%
  Next $3.0   0.365%
  Next $1.5   0.340%
  Next $1.5   0.325%
  Next $1.0   0.320%
  Next $5.0   0.310%
  Next $5.0   0.300%
  Next $4.0   0.290%
  Next $26.0   0.270%
    Over $50.0   0.250%

VP – Cash Management Fund

  First $1.0   0.330%
  Next $0.5   0.313%
  Next $0.5   0.295%
  Next $0.5   0.278%
  Next $2.5   0.260%
  Next $1.0   0.240%
  Next $1.5   0.220%
  Next $1.5   0.215%
  Next $1.0   0.190%
  Next $5.0   0.180%
  Next $5.0   0.170%
  Next $4.0   0.160%
    Over $24.0   0.150%

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

  First $0.25   0.950%
  Next $0.25   0.900%
  Next $0.50   0.850%
  Next $2.0   0.750%
    Over $3.0   0.720%

 

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Fund  

Assets

(billions)

 

Annual rate at

each asset level

 

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

  First $0.25     0.900%   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

  Next $0.25     0.850%   
    Over $0.50     0.800%   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

  First $0.5     0.550
  Next $0.5     0.505
  Next $2.0     0.480
  Next $3.0     0.460
    Over $6.0     0.440

VP – Core Equity Fund

  All     0.400%   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

  First $1.0     0.850%   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

  Next $1.0     0.800%   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

  Over $2.0     0.700%   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

  First $1.0     0.430%   
  Next $1.0     0.420%   
  Next $4.0     0.400%   
  Next $1.5     0.380%   
  Next $1.5     0.365%   
  Next $3.0     0.360%   
  Next $8.0     0.350%   
  Next $4.0     0.340%   
  Next $26.0     0.320%   
    Over $50.0     0.300%   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  First $0.5     0.660%   
  Next $0.5     0.615%   
  Next $0.5     0.570%   
  Next $1.5     0.520%   
  Next $3.0     0.510%   
    Over $6.0     0.490%   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

  First $1.0     0.630%   
  Next $1.0     0.580%   
    Over $2.0     0.530%   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  First $0.25     1.100%   
  Next $0.25     1.080%   
  Next $0.25     1.060%   
  Next $0.25     1.040%   
  Next $1.0     1.020%   
  Next $5.5     1.000%   
  Next $2.5     0.985%   
  Next $5.0     0.970%   
  Next $5.0     0.960%   
  Next $4.0     0.935%   
  Next $26.0     0.920%   
    Over $50.0     0.900%   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

  First $0.5     0.530%   
  Next $0.5     0.525%   
  Next $1.0     0.515%   
  Next $1.0     0.495%   
  Next $3.0     0.480%   
  Next $1.5     0.455%   
  Next $1.5     0.440%   
  Next $1.0     0.431%   
  Next $5.0     0.419%   
  Next $5.0     0.409%   
  Next $4.0     0.393%   
  Next $26.0     0.374%   
    Over $50.0     0.353%   

 

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Fund  

Assets

(billions)

 

Annual rate at

each asset level

VP – Global Bond Fund

  First $1.0   0.570%
  Next $1.0   0.525%
  Next $1.0   0.520%
  Next $3.0   0.515%
  Next $1.5   0.510%
  Next $4.5   0.500%
  Next $8.0   0.490%
  Next $30.0   0.480%
    Over $50.0   0.470%

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

  First $0.25   0.590%

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  Next $0.25   0.575%
  Next $0.25   0.570%
  Next $0.25   0.560%
  Next $1.0   0.550%
  Next $1.0   0.540%
  Next $3.0   0.515%
  Next $1.5   0.490%
  Next $1.5   0.475%
  Next $1.0   0.450%
  Next $5.0   0.435%
  Next $5.0   0.425%
  Next $4.0   0.400%
  Next $26.0   0.385%
    Over $50.0   0.360%

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

  First $1.0   0.650%
  Next $0.5   0.600%
  Next $0.5   0.550%
    Over $2.0   0.500%

VP – International Opportunity Fund

  First $0.25   0.800%
  Next $0.25   0.775%
  Next $0.25   0.750%
  Next $0.25   0.725%
  Next $0.5   0.700%
  Next $1.5   0.650%
  Next $3.0   0.640%
  Next $14.0   0.620%
  Next $4.0   0.610%
  Next $26.0   0.600%
    Over $50.0   0.570%

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

  First $1.0   0.750%
  Next $1.0   0.700%
    Over $2.0   0.650%

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  First $0.5   0.710%

VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund

  Next $0.5   0.665%

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  Next $0.5   0.620%

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  Next $1.5   0.570%
  Next $3.0   0.560%
    Over $6.0   0.540%

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  First $0.5   0.710%

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

  Next $0.5   0.660%
  Next $2.0   0.565%
  Next $3.0   0.560%
    Over $6.0   0.540%

 

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Fund  

Assets

(billions)

 

Annual rate at

each asset level

 

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  First $1.0     0.480%   
  Next $1.0     0.455%   
  Next $1.0     0.430%   
  Next $3.0     0.405%   
  Next $1.5     0.380%   
  Next $1.5     0.365%   
  Next $1.0     0.360%   
  Next $5.0     0.350%   
  Next $5.0     0.340%   
  Next $4.0     0.330%   
  Next $26.0     0.310%   
    Next $50.0     0.290%   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

  First $1.0     0.650%   

VP – MFS Value Fund

  Next $1.0     0.600%   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

  Over $2.0     0.500%   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

           

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  First $0.5     0.790
  Next $0.5     0.745
  Next $0.5     0.700
  Next $1.5     0.650
  Next $3.0     0.640
    Over $6.0     0.620

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  First $0.5     0.760%   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

  Next $0.5     0.715%   
  Next $0.5     0.670%   
    Over $1.5     0.620%   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

  First $0.25     0.950%   
  Next $0.25     0.900
    Over $0.50     0.850

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

  First $1.0     0.850%   
  Next $1.0     0.800%   
    Over $2.0     0.750%   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

  First $0.25     0.970%   
  Next $0.25     0.945%   
  Next $0.25     0.920%   
  Next $0.25     0.895%   
    Over $1.00     0.870%   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

  All     0.100%   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  First $0.5     0.790%   
  Next $0.5     0.745%   
    Over $1.0     0.700%   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  First $2.0     0.950%   
  Next $2.0     0.910%   
    Over $4.0     0.870%   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

  First $0.5     0.730%   
  Next $0.5     0.705%   
  Next $1.0     0.680%   
  Next $1.0     0.655%   
  Next $3.0     0.630%   
    Over $6.0     0.600%   

 

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Fund  

Assets

(billions)

 

Annual rate at

each asset level

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

  First $1.0   0.360%
  Next $1.0   0.355%
  Next $1.0   0.350%
  Next $3.0   0.345%
  Next $1.5   0.330%
  Next $1.5   0.315%
  Next $1.0   0.310%
  Next $5.0   0.300%
  Next $5.0   0.290%
  Next $4.0   0.280%
  Next $26.0   0.260%
    Over $50.0   0.240%

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

  First $0.50   0.780%
  Next $0.50   0.755%
  Next $1.00   0.730%
  Next $1.00   0.705%
  Next $3.00   0.680%
    Over $6.00   0.650%

 

  (a)   Effective April 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of its management fee (from 0.48% to 0.43%) on the first $1 billion of assets of the Fund.
  (b)   The Investment Manager has implemented a schedule for the investment advisory fees for the VP – Managed Volatility Funds, whereby the Fund pays (i) 0.00% advisory fee on its assets that are invested in affiliated underlying mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds that pay an investment management services fee to the Investment Manager; and (ii) an advisory fee rate according to the above schedule on securities, instruments and other assets not described in category (i) above, including without limitation affiliated mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds that do not pay an investment management services fee to the Investment Manager, third party funds, derivatives and individual securities.

The table below shows the total management fees paid by each fund for the last three fiscal periods.

Management Fees

 

      Management Fees  
Fund   2013     2012     2011  

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

  $ 13,534,389      $ 11,875,032      $ 10,005,448   

VP – Balanced Fund

    5,741,640        5,550,568        5,565,686   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

    10,799,396        12,218,818        11,405,335   

VP – Cash Management Fund

    2,456,629        2,682,784        2,698,308   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

    6,014,993        5,330,651        4,753,824   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

    6,329,700        6,072,109        5,747,940   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

    375,784 (a)       N/A        N/A   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Core Equity Fund

    790,582        745,601        731,722   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

    11,146,735        12,281,090        10,889,825   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

    14,337,171        16,699,775        16,859,592   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

    18,303,119        17,216,129        18,520,954   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

    5,025,504        5,555,916        5,533,122   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

    10,264,830        10,035,922        10,390,210   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

    2,042,868        1,357,106 (b)       N/A   

VP – Global Bond Fund

    7,117,801        9,060,398        9,765,308   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

    3,593,524        3,633,642        3,765,991   

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

    9,260,537        11,082,407        10,485,493   

 

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      Management Fees  
Fund   2013      2012     2011  

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  $ 6,555,407       $ 6,709,516      $ 6,864,190   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

    3,222,200         3,160,755        4,078,514   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

    15,941,717         15,854,822        14,400,495   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

    13,276,176         11,366,816        9,084,668   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

    7,902,768         7,554,543        6,708,683   

VP – Large-Cap Growth Fund

    7,398,534         1,820,957        1,776,859   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

    10,052,221         8,381,157        8,994,650   

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

    12,948,571         12,445,306        11,781,840   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

    8,136,151         11,182,980        10,668,735   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

    7,412,515         1,507,654 (c)       N/A   

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

    908,785         946,168        1,091,559   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

    471,245         506,588        588,742   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

    2,061,988         2,241,441        2,566,905   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

    1,160,168         1,234,620        1,533,707   

VP – MFS Value Fund

    12,928,038         11,537,154        10,381,548   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

    4,062,237         3,212,665        2,667,134   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

    5,962,092         7,159,532        6,590,101   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

    N/A         N/A        N/A   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

    N/A         N/A        N/A   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

    N/A         N/A        N/A   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

    3,783,806         3 ,259,492        2,911,396   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

    3,480,903         3,781,503        3,318,413   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

    12,244,636         11,561,280        10,416,615   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

    8,549,820         11,157,060        10,139,391   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

    4,904,827         4,512,348        4,357,684   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

    15,444,776         14,279,048        12,855,966   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

    10,608,722         9,783,655        9,055,809   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

    240,079         213,053        301,369   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

    4,725,013         2,513,810        264,204   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

    1,334,597         1,167,468        1,179,427   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

    937,719         874,647        607,849   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

    8,633,548         8,219,560        9,080,547   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

    6,633,228         6,574,663        5,633,674   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

    6,637,700         4,700,984        4,773,063   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

    8,129,483         7,273,227        6,932,388   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

    10,683,724         9,225,726        7,999,348   

 

(a)   For the period from April 30, 2013 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2013.
(b)   For the period from April 30, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.
(c)   For the period from April 19, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.

Manager of Managers Exemption

The funds have received an order from the SEC that permits Columbia Management, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint a subadviser or change the terms of a subadvisory agreement for a fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The order permits the fund to add or change unaffiliated subadvisers or the fees paid to subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. Columbia Management and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential subadvisers or their affiliates, which may create a conflict of interest. In making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a subadviser, or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement, Columbia Management does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a subadviser, and Columbia Management discloses the nature of any material relationships it has with a subadviser to the Board.

 

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Subadvisory Agreements

The assets of certain funds are managed by subadvisers that have been selected by the investment manager, subject to the review and approval of the Board. The investment manager has recommended the subadvisers to the Board based upon its assessment of the skills of the subadvisers in managing other assets with objectives and investment strategies substantially similar to those of the applicable fund. Short-term investment performance is not the only factor in selecting or terminating a subadviser, and the investment manager does not expect to make frequent changes of subadvisers. Certain subadvisers, affiliated with the investment manager, have been directly approved by shareholders. These subadvisers are noted in the following table.

The investment manager allocates the assets of a fund with multiple subadvisers among the subadvisers. Each subadviser has discretion, subject to oversight by the Board and the investment manager, to purchase and sell portfolio assets, consistent with the fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. Generally, the services that a subadviser provides to the fund are limited to asset management and related recordkeeping services.

The investment manager has entered into an advisory agreement with each subadviser under which the subadviser provides investment advisory assistance and day-to-day management of some or all of the fund’s portfolio, as well as investment research and statistical information. A subadviser may also serve as a discretionary or non-discretionary investment adviser to management or advisory accounts that are unrelated in any manner to the investment manager or its affiliates.

The following table shows the advisory fee schedules for fees paid by the investment manager to subadvisers for funds that have subadvisers.

Subadvisers and Subadvisory Agreement Fee Schedules

 

Fund   Subadviser   

Parent

Company

     Fee Schedule

VP – American Century Diversified Bond

 

American Century

(effective May 10, 2010)

     A       0.16% on all asset levels
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities  

BlackRock

(effective Oct. 19, 2012)

     B       0.15% on the first $250 million, reducing to 0.05% as assets increase

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities

 

Columbia WAM

(effective May 10, 2010)

     C      

0.70% on the first $150 million,

reducing to 0.60% as assets increase

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities

 

Columbia WAM

(effective May 10, 2010)

     C      

0.60% on the first $100 million,

reducing to 0.50% as assets increase

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

  Threadneedle (a)      F      

0.25% on all assets

VP – DFA International Value

 

DFA

(effective November 16, 2011)

     D       0.21% on all asset levels

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income

 

Eaton Vance
(effective May 10, 2010)

     E       0.30% on all asset levels

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth

 

Holland

(effective March 25, 2013)

     N/A      

0.40% on the first $100 million,

reducing to 0.20% as assets increase

VP – International Opportunity  

Threadneedle (a)

(effective July 9, 2004)

     F       0.35% on all assets

VP – Invesco International Growth

 

Invesco

(effective May 10, 2010)

     N/A      

0.35% on the first $250 million,

reducing to 0.25% as assets increase

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond

 

JPMIM

(effective May 10, 2010)

     G       0.15% on all asset levels

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth

 

Jennison

(effective May 10, 2010)

     H       0.40% on assets up to $160 million, decreasing to 0.30% as assets increase; if assets are less than $210 million, then 0.55% on all asset levels

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth

 

Loomis Sayles

(effective March 21, 2014)

     P       0.27% on all asset levels

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  Marsico Capital      R      

0.35% on the first $1.5 billion,

decreasing to 0.23% as assets increase (b),(c)

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  Marsico Capital      R      

0.35% on the first $1.5 billion,

decreasing to 0.23% as assets increase (b),(c)

 

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Fund   Subadviser   

Parent

Company

   Fee Schedule

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  Marsico Capital    R   

0.35% on the first $1.5 billion,

decreasing to 0.23% as assets increase (b),(c)

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  Marsico Capital    R   

0.35% on the first $1.5 billion,

decreasing to 0.23% as assets increase (b),(c)

VP – MFS Value

 

MFS

(effective May 10, 2010)

   I   

0.35% on the first $100 million,

reducing to 0.275% as assets increase

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap

 

Mondrian

(effective May 10, 2010)

   N/A    0.65% on all asset levels

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate

 

MSIM

(effective May 10, 2010)

   J    0.50% on assets up to $200 million, reducing to 0.40% thereafter

VP – NFJ Dividend Value

 

NFJ

(effective May 10, 2010)

   K    0.27% on all asset levels

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth

 

Winslow Capital

(effective November 17, 2010)

   L   

0.40% on the first $100 million,

reducing to 0.25% as assets increase

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth

 

Palisade

(effective Nov. 16, 2012)

   N/A    0.45% on the first $100 million, and 0.40% on the next $100 million
 

TLC

(effective May 10, 2010)

   N/A    0.45% on all asset levels
   

WellsCap

(effective May 10, 2010)

   M    0.48% on all asset levels

VP – Partners Small Cap Value

 

BHMS

(effective March 12, 2004)

   N   

1.00% on the first $10 million, reducing to

0.30% as assets increase (b)

 

Denver

(effective July 16, 2007)

   N/A    0.55% on all assets levels
 

Donald Smith

(effective March 12, 2004)

   N/A   

0.60% on the first $175 million, reducing to

0.55% as assets increase (b)

 

Turner

(effective June 6, 2008)

   N/A   

0.50% on the first $50 million, reducing to

0.35% as assets increase (b)

   

River Road

(effective April 24, 2006)

   O    0.50% on all assets

VP – Pyramis International Equity

 

Pyramis

(effective May 10, 2010)

   Q   

0.36% on the first $350 million,

reducing to 0.32% as assets increase

VP – Sit Dividend Growth  

Sit Investment

(effective Nov. 16, 2012)

   N/A   

0.65% on the first $50 million, reducing to

0.20% as assets increase

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond

 

TCW

(effective March 21, 2014)

   N/A    0.18% on the first $500 million, reducing to 0.05% as asset levels increase
VP – Victory Established Value  

Victory Capital

(effective Nov. 16, 2012)

   N/A   

0.32% on the first $400 million, reducing to

0.30% as assets increase

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government

 

WellsCap

(effective May 10, 2010)

   M    0.15% on assets up to $1 billion, reducing to 0.12% thereafter

 

(a) Threadneedle is an affiliate of the investment manager as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial.
(b) The fee is calculated based on the combined net assets subject to the subadviser’s investment management.
(c) This fee schedule became effective on January 23, 2013. Prior to January 23, 2013, the Investment Manager paid Marsico (i) a subadvisory fee for certain Columbia U.S. equity funds, or portions thereof, managed by Marsico (“U.S. Funds”) at a rate equal to 0.45% on the first $18 billion of aggregate assets of U.S. Funds declining to 0.35% as assets increase; and (ii) a subadvisory fee for certain Columbia international funds, or portions thereof, managed by Marsico (“International Funds”) at a rate equal to 0.45% on the first $6 billion of aggregate assets of International Funds declining to 0.35% as assets increase.
 A – American Century Investment Management, Inc. is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of American Century Companies, Inc. (“ACC”). The Stowers Institute for Medical Research (“SIMR”) controls ACC by virtue of its beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the voting securities of ACC. SIMR is part of a not-for-profit biomedical research organization dedicated to finding the keys to the causes, treatments and prevention of disease.
 B – BlackRock is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.
 C – Columbia WAM is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial.
 D – Dimensional Fund Advisors L.P. is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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 E – Eaton Vance Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp.
 F – Threadneedle is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial.
 G – J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
 H – Jennison Associates LLC is organized under the laws of Delaware as a single member limited liability company whose sole member is Prudential Investments Management, Inc. which is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of
  Prudential Asset Management Holding Company LLC, which is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc.
 I – Massachusetts Financial Services Company is a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings, Inc., which in
  turn is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial, Inc. (a diversified financial services company).
 J – Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley & Co.
 K – NFJ Investment Group LLC is a direct subsidiary of Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC, which is an indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE.
 L – Winslow Capital Management, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments Inc.
 M – Wells Capital Management Incorporated is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., which is indirectly wholly-owned by
   Wells Fargo & Company.
 N – BHMS is an independent-operating subsidiary of Old Mutual Asset Management.
 O – River Road Asset Management LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aviva Investors, a subsidiary of Aviva plc.
 P – Loomis Sayles is a subsidiary of Natixis US, which is part of Natixis Asset Management, an international asset management group based in Paris, France.
 Q – Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC (Fidelity Investments).
 R – Marsico Capital, located at 1200 17th Street, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202, was organized in September 1997 as a Delaware limited liability company and provides investment management services to mutual funds and private accounts. Marsico Capital is an indirect subsidiary of Marsico Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

The following table shows the subadvisory fees paid by the investment manager to subadvisers in the last three fiscal periods.

Subadvisory Fees

 

        Subadvisory Fees Paid  
Fund   Subadviser   2013     2012     2011  
VP – American Century Diversified Bond   American Century   $ 4,903,138      $ 4,220,836      $ 3,495,296   
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities   BlackRock     1,837,079        392,687 (a)       N/A   
VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities   Columbia WAM     4,207,960        3,715,193        3,326,402   
VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities   Columbia WAM     3,870,714        3,701,527        3,518,012   
VP – Commodity Strategy Fund   Threadneedle     171,027 (b)       N/A        N/A   
VP – DFA International Value   DFA     2,793,114        3,086,381        333,545 (c)  
   

Former subadviser: AllianceBernstein L.P.

(May 10, 2010 to Nov. 15, 2011)

    N/A        N/A        3,552,436 (d)  
VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income   Eaton Vance     2,392,786        2,637,034        2,643,450   
VP – Emerging Markets  

Former subadviser: Threadneedle

(July 9, 2004 to June 29, 2012)

    N/A        3,007,438 (e)       4,158,221   
VP – Holland Large Cap Growth   Holland     2,440,128 (j)       N/A (f)       N/A   
   

Former subadviser: Marsico Capital

(May 10, 2010 to March 24, 2013)

    1,139,530 (g)       7,914,955        7,491,820   
VP – International Opportunity   Threadneedle     1,308,014        1,396,858        1,711,582   
VP – Invesco International Growth   Invesco     5,205,273        5,162,342        4,732,380   
VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond   JPMIM     4,497,491        3,768,116        2,941,571   
VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth   Jennison     3,332,936        3,178,679        2,851,648   
VP – Loomis Sayles Growth   Loomis Sayles     N/A (f)       N/A        N/A   
   

Former subadviser: American Century

(May 10, 2010 to March 20, 2014)

    3,686,260        5,149,107        4,928,452   
VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund   Marsico Capital     376,805        573,724        664,966   
VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund   Marsico Capital     195,336        307,141        358,594   

 

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        Subadvisory Fees Paid  
Fund   Subadviser   2013     2012     2011  
VP – Marsico Growth Fund   Marsico Capital   $ 854,771      $ 1,358,949      $ 1,563,812   
VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund   Marsico Capital     433,533        692,445        863,151   
VP – MFS Value   MFS     5,917,944        5,220,766        4,719,351   
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap   Mondrian     2,643,570        2,258,765        2,018,614   
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate   MSIM     1,836,538        1,975,732        1,766,409   
VP – NFJ Dividend Value   NFJ     5,292,394        4,964,816        4,477,655   
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth   Winslow Capital     3,706,305        4,567,793        4,250,396   
VP – Partners Small Cap Growth   Palisade     741,270        68,523 (h)       N/A   
  TLC     876,442        835,270        741,786   
  WellsCap     956,284        887,630        846,563   
   

Former subadviser: TCW

(May 10, 2010 to Nov. 15, 2012)

    N/A        603,114 (i)       736,287   
VP – Partners Small Cap Value   BHMS     1,719,897        1,528,403        1,416,379   
  Denver     1,794,210        1,677,690        1,538,347   
  Donald Smith     1,830,966        1,786,820        1,729,347   
  River Road     1,729,612        1,581,348        1,429,701   
    Turner Investments     1,292,298        1,232,193        1,145,123   
VP – Pyramis International Equity   Pyramis     4,255,536        3,914,253        3,643,539   
VP – Sit Dividend Growth   Sit Investment     2,887,191        276,113 (h)       N/A   
    Former subadviser: Davis Selected Advisers, LP (April 24, 2006 to Nov. 15, 2012)     N/A        3,498,584 (i)       4,268,902   
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond   TCW     N/A (f)       N/A        N/A   
    Former subadviser: Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (May 10, 2010 to March 20, 2014)     2,813,497        2,782,867        2,378,550   
VP – Victory Established Value   Victory Capital     3,308,206        353,854 (h)       N/A   
    Former subadviser: Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (Feb. 19, 2010 to Nov. 15, 2012)     N/A        3,730,410 (i)       4,050,949   
VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government   WellsCap     3,114,446        2,679,565        2,359,907   

 

(a) For the fiscal period from Oct. 19, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2013 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2013.
(c) For the fiscal period from Nov. 16, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011.
(d) For the fiscal period from Jan. 1, 2011 to Nov. 15, 2011.
(e) For the fiscal period from Jan. 1, 2012 to June 29, 2012.
(f) The subadviser began managing the fund after its fiscal year end and therefore no fees were paid.
(g) For the period from Jan. 1, 2013 to March 24, 2013.
(h) For the fiscal period from Nov. 16, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012.
(i) For the fiscal period from Jan. 1, 2012 to Nov. 15, 2012.
(j) For the fiscal period from March 25, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013.

 

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Portfolio Managers. For all funds other than Money Market funds, the following table provides information about the funds’ portfolio managers as of Dec. 31, 2013, unless otherwise noted. All shares of the Variable Portfolio funds are owned by life insurance companies and Qualified Plans, and are not available for purchase by individuals. Consequently, no portfolio manager owns any shares of Variable Portfolio funds.

Portfolio Managers

 

       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $60.52 billion

$1.63 million

  None   (1)   (32)
  Kent M. Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $53.09 billion

$2.54 million

     

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

 

American Century:

         
  Alejandro H. Aguilar  

10 RICs

1 PIV

2 other accounts

  $11.38 billion

$9.0 million

$1.28 billion

  None   (2)   (33)
  Robert V. Gahagan  

18 RICs

2 PIVs

2 other accounts

  $17.4 billion

$98.59 million

$1.28 billion

     
  Jeffrey L. Houston  

9 RICs

1 PIV

1 other account

  $9.21 billion

$9.0 million

$866.19 million

     
  Brian Howell  

17 RICs

2 PIVs

2 other accounts

  $15.87 billion

$95.59 million

$1.28 billion

     
  G. David MacEwen  

37 RICs

24 PIVs

6 other accounts

  $26.41 billion

$3.91 billion

$1.22 billion

     
VP – Balanced Fund   Leonard Aplet  

6 RICs

17 PIVs

65 other accounts

  $13.36 billion

$2.58 billion

$7.74 billion

  None   (3)   (32)
  Brian Lavin  

12 RICs

2 PIVs

5 other accounts

  $24.86 billion

$67.99 million

$3.31 million

     
  Gregory Liechty  

2 RICs

14 PIVs

44 other accounts

  $2.29 billion

$2.58 billion

$6.89 billion

     
  Guy Pope  

9 RICs

4 PIVs

246 other accounts

  $10.04 billion

$332.27 million

$1.53 billion

     
    Ronald Stahl  

2 RICs

14 PIVs

37 other accounts

  $2.29 billion

$2.58 billion

$6.89 billion

     

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

 

BlackRock:

         
  Gargi Chaudhuri (h)   None   N/A   N/A   (4)   (34)
  Martin Hegarty  

7 RICs

4 PIVs

31 other accounts

  $7.08 billion

$242.40 million

$15.27 billion

  1 other account ($0.65 M)    

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

 

Columbia WAM:

         
  Christopher J. Olson  

3 RICs

1 other account

  $1.17 billion

$0.60 million

  None   (5)   (35)
  Louis Mendes III  

2 RICs

5 other accounts

  $9.12 billion

$392.10 million

     

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

 

Columbia WAM:

         
  Robert A. Mohn  

3 RICs

1 PIV

3 other accounts

  $24.29 billion

$53.70 million

$1.12 billion

  None   (5)   (35)
  David L. Frank   4 other accounts   $2.60 million      

 

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Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

 

Threadneedle:

         
  David Donora  

1 RIC

3 PIVs

  $54.8 million

$1.14 billion

  3 PIVs ($1.14 B)   (6)   (36)
  Nicolas Robin          

VP – Conservative Portfolio

  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $62.05 billion

$1.63 million

  None   (1)   (32)
  Kent M. Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $54.62 billion

$2.54 million

     

VP – Core Equity Fund

  Brian M. Condon  

9 RICs

4 PIVs

24 other accounts

  $8.88 billion

$217.94 million

$4.44 billion

  1 PIV ($0.01 M)   (3)   (32)
  Oliver Buckley  

6 RICs

2 PIVs

19 other accounts

  $8.78 billion

$171.74 million

$4.30 billion

  None    

VP – DFA International Value Fund

 

DFA:

         
  Joseph Chi  

105 RICs

19 PIVs

73 other accounts

  $198.56 billion

$10.58 billion

$188.85 billion

  1 PIV ($234.41 M); 1 other account ($343.9 M)   (7)   (37)
  Henry Gray  

93 RICs

15 PIVs

73 other accounts

  $198.86 billion

$10.58 billion

$18.85 billion

  1 PIV ($234.41 M); 1 other account ($343.9 M)    
  Karen Umland  

58 RICs

9 PIVs

30 other accounts

  $198.56 billion

$10.58 billion

$13.38 billion

  1 other account ($343.9 M)    
  Jed Fogdall  

105 RICs

19 PIVs

73 other accounts

  $198.56 billion

$10.58 billion

$18.85 billion

  1 PIV ($234.41 M); 1 other account ($343.9 M)    

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

  Brian Lavin  

12 RICs

2 PIVs

5 other accounts

  $22.88 billion

$67.99 million

$3.31 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Carl Pappo  

4 RICs

5 PIVs

19 other accounts

  $10.96 billion

$1.47 billion

$2.09 billion

     
  Michael Zazzarino  

5 RICs

1 PIV

10 other accounts

  $12.21 billion

$46.26 million

$83.90 million

     

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  Steve Schroll  

5 RICs

1 PIV

379 other accounts

  $9.61 billion

$6.14 million

$594.56 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Paul Stocking  

5 RICs

1 PIV

384 other accounts

  $9.61 billion

$6.14 million

$604.07 million

     
  Dean Ramos  

5 RICs

1 PIV

379 other accounts

  $9.61 billion

$6.14 million

$592.01 million

     

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

 

Eaton Vance:

         
  Scott H. Page  

16 RICs

8 PIVs

2 other accounts

  $36.11 billion

$9.29 billion

$1.51 billion

  1 PIV ($253 M)   (8)   (38)
  Craig P. Russ  

12 RICs

1 PIV

2 other accounts

  $31.03 billion

$5.88 billion

$1.51 billion

  None    
    Andrew Sveen   5 RICs   $3.19 billion   None    
VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund   James Carlen  

3 RICs

4 PIVs

7 other accounts

  $902.49 million

$13.13 billion

$134.76 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Henry Stipp  

2 RICs

3 PIVs

4 other accounts

  $859.2 million

$385.4 million

$565.5 million

  3 PIVs ($385.4 M)   (6)   (36)

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 82   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  Dara J. White  

3 RICs

1 PIV

7 other accounts

  $1.40 billion

$419.36 million

$87.10 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Robert B. Cameron  

1 RIC

1 PIV

7 other accounts

  $1.31 billion

$419.36 million

$87.18 million

     
  Jasmine Huang  

3 RICs

1 PIV

13 other accounts

  $1.75 billion

$419.36 million

$86.95 million

     
VP – Global Bond Fund   Nicholas Pifer  

16 RICs

27 PIVs

17 other accounts

  $700.37 million

$31.48 billion

$466.17 million

  5 PIVs ($63.27 M)   (3)   (32)

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

  Brian Lavin  

12 RICs

2 PIVs

5 other accounts

  $25.21 billion

$67.99 million

$3.31 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Jennifer Ponce de Leon  

1 RIC

30 PIVs

37 other accounts

  $1.95 billion

$31.62 billion

$5.47 billion

     

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

 

Holland:

         
  Monica Walker  

1 RIC

55 other accounts

  $95.1 million

$2.20 billion

 

1 RIC ($95.1 M);

2 other accounts ($1.02 B)

  (9)   (39)
  Carl Bhathena          
VP – Income Opportunities Fund   Brian Lavin  

12 RICs

2 PIVs

5 other accounts

  $24.64 billion

$67.99 million

$3.31 million

  None   (3)   (32)

VP – International Opportunity Fund

 

Threadneedle:

         
  William Davies  

2 PIVs

4 other accounts

  $1.33 billion

$4.44 billion

  None   (6)   (36)
  Simon Haines   1 other account   $357.3 million      

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

 

Invesco:

         
  Clas G. Olsson  

13 RICs

9 PIVs

9,698 other accounts (c)

  $15.82 billion

$2.49 billion

$4.38 billion

  None   (10)   (40)
  Brent Bates  

10 RICs

9,697 other accounts (c)

  $14.24 billion

$4.07 billion

     
  Matthew Dennis  

12 RICs

5 PIVs

9,697 other accounts (c)

  $15.54 billion

$786.10 million

$4.07 billion

     
  Shuxin Cao  

16 RICs

2 PIVs

9,698 other accounts (c)

  $19.68 billion

$579.90 million

$4.38 billion

     
  Jason Holzer  

16 RICs

9 PIV

9,698 other accounts (c)

  $17.68 billion

$2.49 billion

$4.38 billion

     
  Mark Jason  

12 RICs

1 PIVs

9,697 other accounts (c)

  $18.12 billion

$278.10 million

$4.07 billion

     
    Richard Nield  

10 RICs

7 PIVs

9,697 other accounts (c)

  $15.09 billion

$1.91 billion

$4.07 billion

     

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

 

JPMIM:

         
  Peter Simons  

9 RICs

3 PIVs

29 other accounts

  $9.02 billion

$6.81 billion

$6.59 billion

  1 other account ($33.26 B)   (11)   (41)
  Douglas S. Swanson  

13 RICs

8 PIVs

60 other accounts

  $37.94 billion

$10.40 billion

$13.35 billion

  4 other accounts ($2.06 B)    

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 83   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed(excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

 

Jennison:

 
  John Mullman  

5 RICs

4 PIVs

12 other accounts (d)

  $13.98 billion

$1.09 billion

$2.23 billion

  None   (12)   (42)

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  Peter Deininger  

2 RICs

1 PIV

9 other accounts

  $3.13 billion

$80.71 million

$218.64 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  John Wilson  

2 RICs

1 PIV

10 other accounts

  $3.13 billion

$80.71 million

$230.06 million

     

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  Brian Condon  

9 RICs

4 PIVs

24 other accounts

  $7.07 billion

$217.94 million

$4.44 billion

  1 PIV ($0.01 M)   (3)   (32)
  Oliver Buckley  

6 RICs

2 PIVs

19 other accounts

  $6.97 billion

$171.74 million

$4.30 billion

  None    

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  Tom Murphy  

7 RICs

29 PIVs

32 other accounts

  $2.53 billion

$31.60 billion

$3.68 billion

  3 other accounts ($209.81 M)   (3)   (32)
  Tim Doubek  

6 RICs

27 other accounts

  $2.53 billion

$2.35 billion

  3 other accounts ($209.81 M)    
  Royce Wilson  

1 RIC

2 other accounts

  $1.10 billion

$0.22 million

  None    

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

 

Loomis Sayles:

 
  Aziz Hamzogullari (e)  

7 RICs

6 PIVs

52 other accounts

  $5.28 billion

$470.0 million

$2.93 billion

  None   (13)   (43)

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  Kent Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $50.87 billion

$2.54 million

 

None

  (1)
  (32)
  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $58.30 billion

$1.63 million

     
  Melda Mergen  

10 RICs

3 other accounts

  $9.01 billion

$0.79 million

     
  Kent Petersen  

8 RICs

4 PIVs

6 other accounts

  $3.01 billion

$10.07 million

$0.44 million

     
  Todd White  

7 RICs

4 PIVs

11 other accounts

  $2.98 billion

$10.07 million

$7.47 million

     
  Brian Virginia   9 other accounts (i)   $3.20 million      

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

 

Marsico Capital:

 
  Brandon Geisler  

2 RICs

1 other account (f)

  $1.45 billion

$66.50 billion

  None   (14)   (44)

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

 

Marsico Capital:

         
  Thomas Marsico  

18 RICs

9 PIVs

43 other accounts (g)

  $7.96 billion

$1.25 billion

$3.89 billion

  None   (14)   (44)
  Coralie Whitter  

11 RICs

8 PIVs

37 other accounts (g)

  $6.98 billion

$1.23 billion

$3.81 billion

     

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

 

Marsico Capital:

         
  Thomas Marsico  

18 RICs

9 PIVs

43 other accounts (g)

  $7.73 billion

$1.25 billion

$3.89 billion

  None   (14)   (44)
  Coralie Whitter  

11 RICs

8 PIVs

37 other accounts (g)

  $6.75 billion

$1.23 billion

$3.81 billion

     

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 84   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

 

Marsico Capital:

         
  James Gendelman  

11 RICs

4 other accounts

  $1.11 billion

$219.5 million

  None   (14)   (44)
  Munish Malhotra  

8 RICs

3 other accounts

  $1.78 billion

$144.4 million

     

VP – MFS Value Fund

 

MFS:

         
  Nevin P. Chitkara  

18 RICs

6 PIVs

42 other accounts

  $56.4 billion

$5.1 billion

$16.9 billion

  None   (15)   (45)
  Steven R. Gorham  

17 RICS

6 PIVs

42 other accounts

  $56.3 billion

$5.1 billion

$16.9 billion

     

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  George Myers  

2 RICs

3 PIVs

10 other accounts

  $2.84 billion

$345.37 million

$27.19 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Brian Neigut  

2 RICs

3 PIVs

10 other accounts

  $2.84 billion

$345.37 million

$26.68 million

     
  James King  

2 RICs

2 PIVs

9 other accounts

  $2.84 billion

$329.34 million

$154.43 million

     
  William Chamberlain  

1 RIC

2 PIVs

5 other accounts

  $2.65 billion

$329.34 million

$154.43 million

     
VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund   David Hoffman  

3 RICs

1 PIV

7 other accounts

  $5.72 billion

$314.38 million

$135.73 million

  None   (3)   (32)

VP – Moderate Portfolio

  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $40.85 billion

$1.63 million

  None   (1)   (32)
  Kent M. Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $33.41 billion

$2.54 million

  None    

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $50.80 billion

$1.63 million

  None   (1)   (32)
  Kent M. Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $43.37 billion

$2.54 million

  None    

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

  Jeffrey Knight  

19 RICs

3 other accounts

  $58.76 billion

$1.63 million

  None   (1)   (32)
  Kent M. Bergene  

10 RICs

14 other accounts

  $51.33 billion

$2.54 million

  None    
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund  

Mondrian:

         
  Ormala Krishnan  

3 RICs

2 PIVs

24 other accounts

  $1.44 billion

$3.39 billion

$3.93 billion

  None   (16)   (46)
  Frances M. Cuthbert  

1 RIC

1 PIV

11 other accounts

  $482.0 million

$2.73 billion

$1.75 billion

     
  Aidan Nicholson  

1 RIC

13 other accounts

  $482.0 million

$1.96 billion

     

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 85   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts
of Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund  

MSIM:

         
  Theodore R. Bigman  

13 RICs

14 PIVs

53 other accounts

  $5.84 billion

$7.18 billion

$6.74 billion

  14 other accounts ($1.16 B)   (17)   (47)
  Michiel te Paske  

5 RICs

10 PIVs

45 other accounts

  $2.83 billion

$5.71 billion

$4.66 billion

  9 other accounts ($322.43 M)    
  Sven van Kemenade  

5 RICs

10 PIVs

45 other accounts

  $2.83 billion

$5.71 billion

$4.66 billion

  9 other accounts ($322.43 M)    
  Angeline Ho  

5 RICs

9 PIVs

44 other accounts

  $2.83 billion

$5.80 billion

$4.53 billion

  9 other accounts ($322.43 M)    
  Bill Grant (h)   None   N/A   N/A    
VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund  

NFJ:

         
  Benno J. Fischer  

23 RICs

4 PIVs

66 other accounts

  $27.98 billion

$400.0 million

$12.98 billion

  None   (18)   (48)
  R. Burns McKinney  

15 RICs

2 PIVs

51 other accounts

  $17.38 billion

$307.0 million

$11.89 billion

     
  Thomas W. Oliver  

17 RICs

2 PIVs

55 other accounts

  $17.45 billion

$307.0 million

$12.24 billion

     
  Paul Magnuson  

20 RICs

4 PIVs

66 other accounts

  $27.83 billion

$400.0 million

$12.31 billion

     
  L. Baxter Hines  

13 RICs

2 PIVs

49 other accounts

  $16.53 billion

$307.0 million

$11.68 billion

     
  Jeff Reed  

11 RICs

33 other accounts

  $12.78 billion

$7.62 billion

     
  Morley Campbell  

12 RICs

2 PIVs

38 other accounts

  $20.31 billion

$92.0 million

$7.79 billion

     
  John Mowrey (e)  

10 RICs

4 PIVs

32 other accounts

  $5.9 billion

$401.0 million

$5.16 billion

     
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund  

Winslow Capital:

         
  Justin H. Kelly  

7 RICs

7 PIVs

1,638 other accounts

  $23.55 billion

$2.14 billion

$10.15 billion

  4 other accounts ($545 M)   (19)   (49)
  Patrick M. Burton          
  Clark J. Winslow          

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 86   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts of
Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Palisade:

         
  Sammy Oh  

2 RICs

4 PIVs

24 other accounts

  $361.0 million

$170.0 million

$1.04 billion

  3 other accounts ($371 M)   (20)   (50)
 

TLC:

         
  Stephen M. Goddard  

4 RICs

641 other accounts

  $1.66 billion

$6.53 billion

  2 other accounts ($6.45 M)   (21)   (51)
  Jonathan T. Moody  

4 RICs

641 other accounts

  $1.66 billion

$6.53 billion

  None    
  J. Brian Campbell  

4 RICs

641 other accounts

  $1.66 billion

$6.53 billion

  None    
  Mark E. DeVaul  

4 RICs

641 other accounts

  $1.66 billion

$6.53 billion

  None    
 

WellsCap:

             
  Thomas C. Ognar  

7 RICs

7 PIVs

74 other accounts

  $20.86 billion

$2.53 billion

$2.90 billion

  2 other accounts ($517.57 M)   (22)   (52)
  Joseph M. Eberhardy          
  Bruce C. Olson          

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

 

BHMS:

         
  James S. McClure  

4 RICs

19 other accounts

  $1.70 billion

$1.38 billion

  None   (23)   (53)
  John P. Harloe          
 

Denver:

         
  Kris Herrick  

4 RICs

1 PIV

162 other accounts

  $489.0 million

$48.0 million

$827.0 million

  2 other accounts ($234 M)   (24)   (54)
  Troy Dayton          
  Mark Adelmann          
  Derek Anguilm          
  Lisa Ramirez          
 

Donald Smith:

                   
  Donald G. Smith  

2 RICs

1 PIV

43 other accounts

  $1.98 billion

$76.0 million

$3.75 billion

 

1 RIC ($1.93 M);

1 other account ($131 M)

  (25)   (55)
  Richard L. Greenberg          
 

Turner:

         
  David Kovacs  

3 RICs

3 PIVs

1 other account

  $104.0 million

$27.0 million

$240.0 million

  2 PIVs ($2 M)   (26)   (56)
 

River Road:

         
  James C. Shircliff  

6 RICs

24 PIVs

151 other accounts

  $2.03 billion

$1.94 billion

$4.80 billion

  1 other account ($380 M)   (27)   (57)
  R. Andrew Beck  

3 RICs

1 PIV

47 other accounts

  $657.0 million

$5.0 million

$1.14 billion

  None    
  J. Justin Akin  

3 RICs

1 PIV

43 other accounts

  $657.0 million

$5.0 million

$1.13 billion

  None    
VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund  

Pyramis:

         
  Cesar Hernandez  

4 RICs

17 PIVs

50 other accounts

  $839.0 million

$8.45 billion

$20.10 billion

 

1 PIV ($5.3 B);

11 other accounts ($9.73 B)

  (28)   (58)
VP – S&P 500 Index Fund   Alfred Alley  

4 RICs

2 PIVs

12 other accounts

  $9.59 billion

$401.44 million

$786.01 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Vadim Shteyn  

3 RICs

1 PIV

7 other accounts

  $9.53 billion

$355.25 million

$641.92 million

     

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 87   


Table of Contents
       

Other Accounts Managed (excluding the fund)

  Performance Based
Accounts (b)
  Potential
Conflicts of
Interest
  Structure of
Compensation
Fund   Portfolio Manager   Number and type
of account (a)
  Approximate
Total Net Assets
     
VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund   Richard S. Rosen  

4 RICs

1 PIV

876 other accounts

  $1.44 billion

$62.04 million

$3.34 billion

  None   (3)   (32)
  Kari Montanus (d)   4 other accounts   $0.94 million      
VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund   Richard S. Rosen  

4 RICs

1 PIV

876 other accounts

  $2.06 billion

$62.04 million

$3.34 billion

  None   (3)   (32)
  Kari Montanus (d)   4 other accounts   $0.94 million      
VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund   Paul Wick  

3 RICs

1 PIV

4 other accounts

  $3.65 billion

$113.09 million

$4.69 million

  1 PIV ($113.09 M)   (3)   (59)
  Ajay Diwan  

3 RICs

5 other accounts

  $3.65 billion

$1.36 million

  None    
VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund  

Sit Investment:

         
  Roger J. Sit  

8 RICs

11 PIVs

41 other accounts

  $1.67 billion

$223.0 million

$1.72 billion

  None   (29)   (60)
  Kent L. Johnson  

4 RICs

6 PIVs

21 other accounts

  $1.42 billion

$164.0 million

$1.0 billion

     
  Michael J. Stellmacher  

3 RICs

6 PIVs

31 other accounts

  $1.43 billion

$154.0 million

$1.47 billion

     
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund  

TCW:

         
  Tad Rivelle (h)  

23 RICs

36 PIVs

213 other accounts

  $45.55 billion

$4.95 billion

$26.23 billion

 

2 RICs ($261.2 M); 29 PIVs ($3.8 B);

5 other accounts ($1.91 B)

  (30)   (61)
  Laird Landmann (h)  

24 RICs

36 PIVs

213 other accounts

  $41.99 billion

$4.95 billion

$26.34 billion

 

1 RIC ($253.7 M); 29 PIVs ($3.8 B);

5 other accounts ($1.91 B)

   
  Steve Kane (h)  

25 RICs

40 PIVs

213 other accounts

  $41.98 billion

$5.74 billion

$26.34 billion

 

2 RICs ($261.2 M); 30 PIVs ($4.2 B);

5 other accounts ($1.91 B)

   
  Bryan Whalen (h)  

16 RICs

34 PIVs

212 other accounts

  $16.73 billion

$4.92 billion

$24.18 billion

 

29 PIVs ($3.8 B);

5 other accounts ($1.91 B)

   
VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund   Jason J. Callan  

2 RICs

2 PIVs

4 other accounts

  $1.81 billion

$78.28 million

$0.89 million

  None   (3)   (32)
  Tom Heuer  

1 RIC

6 other accounts

  $1.78 billion

$1.09 million

     

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

 

Victory Capital:

         
  Gary H. Miller  

1 RIC

1 PIV

1 other account

  $2.03 billion

$25.4 million

$57.5 million

  None   (31)   (62)
  Gregory M. Conners          
  Jeffrey M. Graff          
  James Albers          
    Mike Rodarte          

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

 

WellsCap:

         
  Thomas O’Connor  

9 RICs

2 PIVs

33 other accounts

  $8.61 billion

$1.34 billion

$10.05 billion

  1 other account ($513.91 M)   (22)   (52)
  Troy Ludgood          

 

(a) RIC refers to a Registered Investment Company; PIV refers to a Pooled Investment Vehicle.
(b) Number of accounts for which the advisory fee paid is based in part or wholly on performance and the aggregate net assets in those accounts.

 

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(c) These are accounts of individual investors for which Invesco provides investment advice. Invesco offers separately managed accounts that are managed according to the investment models developed by its portfolio managers and used in connection with the management of certain Invesco Funds. These accounts may be invested in accordance with one or more of those investment models and investments held in those accounts are traded in accordance with the applicable models.
(d) Other accounts excludes the assets and number of accounts in wrap fee programs that are managed using model portfolios.
(e) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of Feb. 28, 2014.
(f) The other account is a wrap fee platform which includes approximately 210 underlying clients for total assets of approximately $67 million.
(g) One of the other accounts is a wrap fee platform which includes approximately 2,424 underlying clients for total assets of approximately $869 million and two of the other accounts represent model portfolios for total assets of approximately $1.219 billion.
(h) The portfolio manager began managing the fund after its fiscal year end; reporting information is provided as of Dec. 31, 2013.
(i) The portfolio manager began managing the Fund after its fiscal year end; portfolio manager reporting information is provided as of March 31, 2014.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

(1) Columbia Management: Management of the fund-of-funds differs from that of the other funds. The portfolio management process is set forth generally below and in more detail in the funds’ prospectus.

Because of the structure of the fund-of-funds, the potential conflicts of interest for the portfolio managers may be different than the potential conflicts of interest for portfolio managers who manage other funds. These potential conflicts of interest include:

 

   

In certain cases, the portfolio managers of the underlying funds are the same as the portfolio managers of the fund-of-funds, and could influence the allocation of funds-of-funds assets to or away from the underlying funds that they manage.

 

   

Columbia Management and its affiliates may receive higher compensation as a result of allocations to underlying funds with higher fees.

 

   

Columbia Management monitors the performance of the underlying funds and may, from time to time, recommend to the Board of the funds a change in portfolio management or fund strategy or the closure or merger of an underlying fund. In addition, Columbia Management may believe that certain funds may benefit from additional assets or could be harmed by redemptions. All of these factors may also influence decisions in connection with the allocation of funds-of-funds assets to or away from certain underlying funds.

In addition to the accounts above, portfolio managers may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the fund. The investment manager has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of the portfolio managers and other “investment access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the fund and other client accounts.

 

(2) American Century: Certain conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the management of multiple portfolios. Potential conflicts include, for example, conflicts among investment strategies, such as one portfolio buying or selling a security while another portfolio has a differing, potentially opposite position in such security. This may include one portfolio taking a short position in the security of an issuer that is held long in another portfolio (or vice versa). Other potential conflicts may arise with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, which are discussed in more detail below. American Century has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to minimize the effects of these conflicts.

Responsibility for managing American Century client portfolios is organized according to investment discipline. Investment disciplines include, for example, quantitative equity, U.S. growth mid and small-cap, U.S. growth large-cap, value, global and non-U.S., fixed income, and asset allocation. Within each discipline are one or more portfolio teams responsible for managing specific client portfolios. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed by the same team using the same objective, approach, and philosophy. Accordingly, portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios, which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest. In addition, American Century Investments maintains an ethical wall around each of its equity disciplines (U.S. growth large-cap, U.S. growth mid- and small-cap, value, quantitative equity and global and non-U.S.), meaning that access to information regarding any portfolio’s transactional activities is only available to team members of the investment discipline that manages such portfolio. The ethical wall is intended to aid in preventing the misuse of portfolio holdings information and trading activity in the other disciplines.

For each investment strategy, one portfolio is generally designated as the “policy portfolio.” Other portfolios with similar investment objectives, guidelines and restrictions are referred to as “tracking portfolios.” When managing policy and tracking portfolios, a portfolio team typically purchases and sells securities across all portfolios that the team manages. American Century’s trading systems include various order entry programs that assist in the management of multiple portfolios, such as the ability to purchase or sell the same relative amount of one security across several funds. In some cases a tracking portfolio may have additional restrictions or limitations that cause it to be managed separately

 

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from the policy portfolio. Portfolio managers make purchase and sale decisions for such portfolios alongside the policy portfolio to the extent the overlap is appropriate, and separately, if the overlap is not. American Century may aggregate orders to purchase or sell the same security for multiple portfolios when it believes such aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution on behalf of its clients. Orders of certain client portfolios may, by investment restriction or otherwise, be determined not available for aggregation. American Century has adopted policies and procedures to minimize the risk that a client portfolio could be systematically advantaged or disadvantaged in connection with the aggregation of orders. To the extent equity trades are aggregated, shares purchased or sold are generally allocated to the participating portfolios pro rata based on order size. Because initial public offerings (IPOs) are usually available in limited supply and in amounts too small to permit across-the-board pro rata allocations, American Century has adopted special procedures designed to promote a fair and equitable allocation of IPO securities among clients over time. Fixed income securities transactions are not executed through a centralized trading desk. Instead, fund teams are responsible for executing trades with broker/dealers in a predominantly dealer marketplace. Trade allocation decisions are made by the portfolio manager at the time of trade execution and orders entered on the fixed income order management system.

Finally, investment of American Century’s corporate assets in proprietary accounts may raise additional conflicts of interest. To mitigate these potential conflicts of interest, American Century has adopted policies and procedures intended to provide that trading in proprietary accounts is performed in a manner that does not give improper advantage to American Century to the detriment of client portfolios.

 

(3) Columbia Management:  Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a fund’s portfolio manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the fund and other accounts at the same time. The investment manager and the funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of the potential conflicts that portfolio managers face in this regard. Certain of these conflicts of interest are summarized below.

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (performance fee accounts), may raise potential conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager by creating an incentive to favor higher fee accounts.

Potential conflicts of interest also may arise when a portfolio manager has personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to the investment manager’s Code of Ethics and certain limited exceptions, the investment manager’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the funds.

A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

A portfolio manager may be able to select or influence the selection of the broker/dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds. A portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of broker/dealers could produce disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and the other accounts the portfolio manager manages.

A potential conflict of interest may arise when a portfolio manager buys or sells the same securities for a fund and other accounts. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a fund as well as other accounts, the investment manager’s trading desk may, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or bought in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a fund or another account if a portfolio manager favors one account over another in allocating the securities bought or sold.

“Cross trades,” in which a portfolio manager sells a particular security held by a fund to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), could involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, a portfolio manager is permitted to sell a security from one account to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. The investment manager and the funds have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between a fund and another account managed by the investment manager are to be made at a current market price, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a fund and other accounts managed by its portfolio manager(s). Depending on another account’s objectives and other factors, a portfolio manager may give advice to and make decisions for a fund that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to another account. A portfolio manager’s investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a portfolio manager may buy or sell a particular security for certain accounts, and not for a fund, even though it could have been bought or sold for the

 

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fund at the same time. A portfolio manager also may buy a particular security for one or more accounts when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when a portfolio manager’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts, including the funds.

A fund’s portfolio manager(s) also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could exist in managing the fund and other accounts. Many of the potential conflicts of interest to which the investment manager’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to the investment management activities of the investment manager and its affiliates.

 

(4) BlackRock: BlackRock has built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, BlackRock furnishes investment management and advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and BlackRock may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to BlackRock, or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, BlackRock, its affiliates and significant shareholders and any officer, director, shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale BlackRock recommends to the Fund. BlackRock, or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder, employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Fund by BlackRock with respect to the same securities. Moreover, BlackRock may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of BlackRock’s (or its affiliates’ or significant shareholders’) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. Certain portfolio managers also may manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that Messrs. Hegarty and Weinstein may be managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team managing hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Messrs. Hegarty and Weinstein may therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts.

As a fiduciary, BlackRock owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When BlackRock purchases or sells securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. BlackRock attempts to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide BlackRock with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate.

 

(5) Columbia WAM: Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a Fund’s portfolio manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the Fund and other accounts at the same time. Columbia WAM and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of the potential conflicts that portfolio managers face in this regard. Certain of these conflicts of interest are summarized below.

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (performance fee accounts), if any, may raise potential conflicts of interest for a portfolio manager by creating an incentive to favor higher fee accounts.

Potential conflicts of interest also may arise when a portfolio manager has personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to Columbia WAM’s Code of Ethics and certain limited exceptions, Columbia WAM’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the Funds. A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts managed by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

A portfolio manager may be able to select or influence the selection of the broker/dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the Funds. A portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of broker/dealers could produce disproportionate costs and benefits among the Funds and the other accounts the portfolio manager manages.

 

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A potential conflict of interest may arise when a portfolio manager buys or sells the same securities for a Fund and other accounts. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a Fund as well as other accounts, Columbia WAM’s trading desk may, to the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or bought in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if a portfolio manager favors one account over another in allocating the securities bought or sold.

“Cross trades,” in which a portfolio manager sells a particular security held by a Fund to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), could involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, a portfolio manager is permitted to sell a security from one account to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. Columbia WAM and the Funds have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between the Fund and another account managed by Columbia WAM are to be made at an independent current market price, consistent with applicable laws and regulation.

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a Fund and other accounts managed by its portfolio manager(s). Depending on another account’s objectives and other factors, a portfolio manager may give advice to and make decisions for a Fund that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to another account. A portfolio manager’s investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a portfolio manager may buy or sell a particular security for certain accounts, and not for a Fund, even though it could have been bought or sold for the Fund at the same time. A portfolio manager also may buy a particular security for one or more accounts when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when a portfolio manager’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts, including the Funds.

A Fund’s portfolio manager(s) also may have other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist in managing both the Fund and other accounts. Many of the potential conflicts of interest to which Columbia WAM’s portfolio managers are subject are essentially the same as or similar to the potential conflicts of interest related to the investment management activities of Columbia WAM and its affiliates.

 

(6) Threadneedle:  Threadneedle Investments portfolio managers may manage one or more mutual funds as well as other types of accounts, including proprietary accounts, separate accounts for institutions, and other pooled investment vehicles. Portfolio managers make investment decisions for an account or portfolio based on its investment objectives and policies, and other relevant investment considerations. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle whose fees may be materially greater than the management fees paid by the Fund and may include a performance-based fee. Management of multiple funds and accounts may create potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, and the aggregation and allocation of trades. In addition, the portfolio manager’s responsibilities at Threadneedle Investments include working as a securities analyst. This dual role may give rise to conflicts with respect to making investment decisions for accounts that he/she manages versus communicating his/her analyses to other portfolio managers concerning securities that he/she follows as an analyst.

Threadneedle Investments has a fiduciary responsibility to all of the clients for which it manages accounts. Threadneedle Investments seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. Threadneedle Investments has developed policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the management of multiple types of accounts for multiple clients.

 

(7) DFA: Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to a mutual fund, such as the Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund (“Fund”), and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (including proprietary mutual funds advised by DFA or its affiliates), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to the Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management . The management of the Fund and other Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of the fund and/or Accounts. DFA seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager within an investment discipline are managed using the same investment models.

 

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Investment Opportunities . It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by the Fund and one or more Accounts. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that the Fund may hold investments in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for the Fund and one or more Accounts, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Accounts. To address these situations, DFA has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection . With respect to securities transactions for the Fund, DFA determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), DFA may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, DFA or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees . For some Accounts, DFA may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for DFA with regard to Accounts where DFA is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where DFA might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account . A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

DFA has adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

 

(8) Eaton Vance: It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the fund’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the fund and other accounts he advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions between the fund and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the fund. In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may compensate the investment adviser based on the performance of the securities held by that account. The existence of such a performance based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities. Whenever conflicts of interest arise, the portfolio managers will endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that they believe is equitable to all interested persons. Eaton Vance has adopted several policies and procedures designed to address these potential conflicts including a code of ethics and policies which govern Eaton Vance’s trading practices, including among other things the aggregation and allocation of trades among clients, brokerage allocation, cross trades and best execution.

 

(9) Holland: Portfolio Managers at the subadvisor manage portfolios for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions such as pension funds, insurance companies, or foundations), commingled trust accounts, and investment programs. They may have investment objectives, strategies and risk profiles that are similar to or differ from those of the Fund. Portfolio Managers make investment decisions for each portfolio, including the Fund, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that client portfolio. In managing other accounts, certain material conflicts of interest may arise. Potential conflicts include, for example, conflicts between the investment strategy of the Fund and the investment strategy of other accounts managed by the Fund’s Portfolio Managers and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and such other accounts. Potential material conflicts may also arise in connection with the Portfolio Managers’ management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other, or where the other accounts have higher or performance-based fee arrangements. The subadvisor has a fiduciary responsibility to treat all clients fairly. The sub-advisor has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures that it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, the sub-advisor monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with the account’s guidelines, the allocation of securities, and compliance with its Code of Ethics.

 

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(10) Invesco: Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple funds and/or other accounts may be presented with one or more of the following potential conflicts:

 

   

The management of multiple funds and/or other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each fund and/or other account. Invesco seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most other accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the funds.

 

   

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, a fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible funds and other accounts. To deal with these situations, Invesco and the funds have adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple accounts.

 

   

Invesco determines which broker to use to execute each order for securities transactions for the funds, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, for certain other accounts (such as mutual funds for which Invesco or an affiliate acts as subadviser, other pooled investment vehicles that are not registered mutual funds, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals), Invesco may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, trades for a fund in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, such other accounts. Having separate transactions with respect to a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the possible detriment of the fund or other account(s) involved.

 

   

Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Invesco has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of one fund or account but not all funds and accounts for which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

Invesco and the funds have adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

 

(11) JPMIM: The potential for conflicts of interest exists when portfolio managers manage other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund (“Similar Accounts”). Potential conflicts may include, for example, conflicts between investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities.

Responsibility for managing J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JP Morgan)’s and its affiliates’ clients’ portfolios is organized according to investment strategies within asset classes. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed by portfolio managers in the same portfolio management group using the same objectives, approach and philosophy. Underlying sectors or strategy allocations within a larger portfolio are likewise managed by portfolio managers who use the same approach and philosophy as similarly managed portfolios. Therefore, portfolio holdings, relative position sizes and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios and strategies, which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest.

JP Morgan and/or its affiliates may receive more compensation with respect to certain Similar Accounts than that received with respect to the Fund or may receive compensation based in part on the performance of certain Similar Accounts. This may create a potential conflict of interest for JP Morgan and its affiliates or its portfolio managers by providing an incentive to favor these Similar Accounts when, for example, placing securities transactions. In addition, JP Morgan or its affiliates could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that JP Morgan or an affiliate has a proprietary investment in Similar Accounts, the portfolio managers have personal investments in Similar Accounts or the Similar Accounts are investment options in JP Morgan’s or its affiliate’s employee benefit plans. Potential conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of investment opportunities because of market factors or investment restrictions imposed upon JP Morgan and its affiliates by law, regulation, contract or internal policies.

Allocations of aggregated trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially completed due to limited availability and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as JP Morgan or its affiliates may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to favored accounts. Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. JP Morgan and its affiliates may be perceived as causing accounts they manage to participate in an offering to increase JP Morgan’s and its affiliates’ overall allocation of securities in that offering.

A potential conflict of interest also may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in a different account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by

 

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another account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account. If JP Morgan or its affiliates manage accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the Fund invests, JP Morgan or its affiliates could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall.

As an internal policy matter, JP Morgan or its affiliates may from time to time maintain certain overall investment limitations on the securities positions or positions in other financial instruments JP Morgan or its affiliates will take on behalf of its various clients due to, among other things, liquidity concerns and regulatory restrictions. Such policies may preclude a Fund from purchasing particular securities or financial instruments, even if such securities or financial instruments would otherwise meet the Fund’s objectives.

The goal of JP Morgan and its affiliates is to meet their fiduciary obligation with respect to all clients. JP Morgan and its affiliates have policies and procedures that seek to manage conflicts. JP Morgan and its affiliates monitor a variety of areas, including compliance with fund guidelines, review of allocation decisions and compliance with JP Morgan’s Codes of Ethics and JPMC’s Code of Conduct. With respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, JP Morgan and its affiliates also have certain policies designed to achieve fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among its clients over time. For example:

Orders for the same equity security traded through a single trading desk or system are aggregated on a continual basis throughout each trading day consistent with JP Morgan’s and its affiliates’ duty of best execution for its clients. If aggregated trades are fully executed, accounts participating in the trade will be allocated their pro rata share on an average price basis. Partially completed orders generally will be allocated among the participating accounts on a pro-rata average price basis, subject to certain limited exceptions. For example, accounts that would receive a de minimis allocation relative to their size may be excluded from the order. Another exception may occur when thin markets or price volatility require that an aggregated order be completed in multiple executions over several days. If partial completion of the order would result in an uneconomic allocation to an account due to fixed transaction or custody costs, JP Morgan and its affiliates may exclude small orders until 50% of the total order is completed. Then the small orders will be executed. Following this procedure, small orders will lag in the early execution of the order, but will be completed before completion of the total order.

Purchases of money market instruments and fixed income securities cannot always be allocated pro rata across the accounts with the same investment strategy and objective. However, JP Morgan and its affiliates attempt to mitigate any potential unfairness by basing non-pro rata allocations traded through a single trading desk or system upon objective predetermined criteria for the selection of investments and a disciplined process for allocating securities with similar duration, credit quality and liquidity in the good faith judgment of JP Morgan or its affiliates so that fair and equitable allocation will occur over time.

 

(12) Jennison: Jennison manages accounts with asset-based fees alongside accounts with performance-based fees. This side-by-side management can create an incentive for Jennison and its investment professionals to favor one account over another. Specifically, Jennison has the incentive to favor accounts for which it receives performance fees, and possibly take greater investment risks in those accounts, in order to bolster performance and increase its fees.

Other types of side-by-side management of multiple accounts can also create incentives for Jennison to favor one account over another. Examples are detailed below, followed by a discussion of how Jennison addresses these conflicts.

 

   

Long only accounts/long-short accounts :

Jennison manages accounts in strategies that only hold long securities positions as well as accounts in strategies that are permitted to sell securities short. Jennison may hold a long position in a security in some client accounts while selling the same security short in other client accounts. Jennison permits quantitatively hedged strategies to short securities that are held long in other strategies. Additionally, Jennison permits securities that are held long in quantitatively derived strategies to be shorted by other strategies. The strategies that sell a security short held long by another strategy could lower the price for the security held long. Similarly, if a strategy is purchasing a security that is held short in other strategies, the strategies purchasing the security could increase the price of the security held short.

 

   

Multiple strategies :

Jennison may buy or sell, or may direct or recommend that one client buy or sell, securities of the same kind or class that are purchased or sold for another client, at prices that may be different. Jennison may also, at any time, execute trades of securities of the same kind or class in one direction for an account and in the opposite direction for another account, due to differences in investment strategy or client direction. Different strategies effecting trading in the same securities or types of securities may appear as inconsistencies in Jennison’s management of multiple accounts side-by-side.

 

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Affiliated accounts/unaffiliated accounts and seeded/nonseeded accounts and accounts receiving asset allocation assets from affiliated investment advisers :

Jennison manages accounts for its affiliates and accounts in which it has an interest alongside unaffiliated accounts. Jennison could have an incentive to favor its affiliated accounts over unaffiliated accounts. Additionally, Jennison’s affiliates may provide initial funding or otherwise invest in vehicles managed by Jennison. When an affiliate provides “seed capital” or other capital for a fund, it may do so with the intention of redeeming all or part of its interest at a particular future point in time or when it deems that sufficient additional capital has been invested in that fund. Jennison typically requests seed capital to start a track record for a new strategy or product. Managing “seeded” accounts alongside “non-seeded” accounts can create an incentive to favor the “seeded” accounts to establish a track record for a new strategy or product. Additionally, Jennison’s affiliated investment advisers could allocate their asset allocation clients’ assets to Jennison. Jennison could favor accounts used by its affiliate for their asset allocation clients to receive more assets from the affiliate.

 

   

Non-discretionary accounts or models :

Jennison provides non-discretionary model portfolios to some clients and manages other portfolios on a discretionary basis. The non-discretionary clients may be disadvantaged if Jennison delivers the model investment portfolio to them after Jennison initiates trading for the discretionary clients, or vice versa.

 

   

Higher fee paying accounts or products or strategies :

Jennison receives more revenues from (1) larger accounts or client relationships than smaller accounts or client relationships and from (2) managing discretionary accounts than advising nondiscretionary models and from (3) non-wrap fee accounts than from wrap fee accounts and from (4) charging higher fees for some strategies than others. The differences in revenue that Jennison receives could create an incentive for Jennison to favor the higher fee paying or higher revenue generating account or product or strategy over another.

 

   

Personal interests :

The performance of one or more accounts managed by Jennison’s investment professionals is taken into consideration in determining their compensation. Jennison also manages accounts that are investment options in its employee benefit plans such as its defined contribution plans or deferred compensation arrangements and where its employees may have personally invested alongside other accounts where there is no personal interest. These factors could create an incentive for Jennison to favor the accounts where it has a personal interest over accounts where Jennison does not have a personal interest.

How Jennison Addresses These Conflicts of Interest

The conflicts of interest described above could create incentives for Jennison to favor one or more accounts or types of accounts over others in the allocation of investment opportunities, time, aggregation and timing of investments. Generally, portfolios in a particular strategy with similar objectives are managed similarly to the extent possible. Accordingly, portfolio holdings and industry and sector exposure tend to be similar across a group of accounts in a strategy that have similar objectives, which tends to minimize the potential for conflicts of interest among accounts within a product strategy. While these accounts have many similarities, the investment performance of each account will be different primarily due to differences in guidelines, individual portfolio manager’s decisions, timing of investments, fees, expenses and cash flows.

Additionally, Jennison has developed policies and procedures that seek to address, mitigate and monitor these conflicts of interest.

 

   

Jennison has adopted trade aggregation and allocation procedures that seek to treat all clients (including affiliated accounts) fairly and equitably. These policies and procedures address the allocation of limited investment opportunities, such as initial public offerings (IPOs) and new issues, the allocation of transactions across multiple accounts, and the timing of transactions between its non-wrap accounts and its wrap fee accounts.

 

   

Jennison has policies that limit the ability to short securities in portfolios that primarily rely on its fundamental research and investment processes (fundamental portfolios) if the security is held long in other fundamental portfolios.

 

   

Jennison has adopted procedures to monitor allocations between accounts with performance fees and non-performance fee based accounts and to monitor overlapping long and short positions among long accounts and long-short accounts.

 

   

Jennison has adopted a code of ethics and policies relating to personal trading.

 

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(13) Loomis Sayles: Conflicts of interest may arise in the allocation of investment opportunities and the allocation of aggregated orders among the funds and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. A portfolio manager potentially could give favorable treatment to some accounts for a variety of reasons, including favoring larger accounts, accounts that pay higher fees, accounts that pay performance-based fees or accounts of affiliated companies. Such favorable treatment could lead to more favorable investment opportunities or allocations for some accounts. Loomis Sayles makes investment decisions for all accounts (including institutional accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds and affiliated accounts) based on each account’s availability of other comparable investment opportunities and Loomis Sayles’ desire to treat all accounts fairly and equitably over time. The goal of Loomis Sayles is to meet its fiduciary obligation with respect to all clients. Loomis Sayles maintains trade allocation and aggregation policies and procedures to address these potential conflicts. Conflicts of interest also may arise to the extent a portfolio manager short sells a stock in one client account but holds that stock long in other accounts, including the Fund, or sells a stock for some accounts while buying the stock for others, and through the use of “soft dollar arrangements.

 

(14) Marsico Capital: A portfolio manager may manage accounts for other clients. These accounts may include registered investment companies, other types of pooled accounts (e.g., collective investment funds), and separate accounts (i.e., accounts managed on behalf of individuals or public or private institutions). Portfolio managers of Marsico Capital make investment decisions for each account based on the investment objectives and policies and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Although Marsico Capital does not track the time a portfolio manager spends on a single portfolio, it does assess whether a portfolio manager has adequate time and resources to effectively manage all of the accounts for which he is responsible. Marsico Capital seeks to manage competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline or complementary investment disciplines. Accounts within a particular investment discipline may often be managed by using generally similar investment strategies, subject to factors including particular account restrictions and objectives, account opening dates, cash flows, and other considerations. Even where multiple accounts are managed by the same portfolio manager within the same investment discipline, however, Marsico Capital may take action with respect to one account that may differ from the timing or nature of action taken with respect to another account because of different client-specific objectives or restrictions or for other reasons such as different cash flows. Accordingly, the performance of each account managed by a portfolio manager will vary.

Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when allocating and/or aggregating trades. Marsico Capital often aggregates into a single trade order several individual contemporaneous client trade orders in a single security. Under Marsico Capital’s trade management policy and procedures, when trades are aggregated on behalf of more than one account, such transactions will be allocated to participating client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. With respect to initial public offerings and other syndicated or limited offerings, it is Marsico Capital’s policy to seek to ensure that over the long term, accounts with the same or similar investment objectives or strategies will receive an equitable opportunity to participate meaningfully in such offerings and will not be unfairly disadvantaged. To deal with these situations, Marsico Capital has adopted policies and procedures for allocating transactions across multiple accounts. Marsico Capital’s policies also seek to ensure that portfolio managers do not systematically allocate other types of trades in a manner that would be more beneficial to one account than another. Marsico Capital’s compliance department monitors transactions made on behalf of multiple clients to seek to ensure adherence to its policies.

Marsico Capital has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that seek to minimize potential conflicts of interest that may arise because Marsico Capital advises multiple accounts. In addition, Marsico Capital monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with account investment guidelines and/or restrictions and compliance with the policies and procedures of Marsico Capital, including Marsico Capital’s Code of Ethics.

 

(15) MFS: MFS seeks to identify potential conflicts of interest resulting from a portfolio manager’s management of both the Fund and other accounts, and has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such potential conflicts.

The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) gives rise to potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives and strategies, benchmarks, time horizons and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In certain instances there are securities which are suitable for the Fund’s portfolio as well as for accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries with similar investment objectives. MFS trade allocation policies may give rise to conflicts of interest if the Fund’s orders do not get fully executed or are delayed in getting executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts of MFS or its subsidiaries. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Investments selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform investments selected for the Fund.

 

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When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed by MFS to be fair and equitable to each. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. In most cases, however, MFS believes that the Fund’s ability to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the Fund.

MFS and/or a portfolio manager may have a financial incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor accounts other than the Fund, for instance, those that pay a higher advisory fee and/or have a performance adjustment and/or include an investment by the portfolio manager.

 

(16) Mondrian: Mondrian believes that there are not any material conflicts of interest that may arise in its management of Fund assets that have been allocated to it, and of any other accounts managed with similar investment guidelines. Mondrian states that it acts solely as an investment manager and does not engage in any other business activities. The following is a list of some potential conflicts of interest that Mondrian believes can arise in the course of its investment management business activities, together with a summary of Mondrian’s policy in that area:

Allocation of aggregated trades

Mondrian states that it may from time to time aggregate trades for a number of its clients. Mondrian’s policy requires that all allocations of aggregated trades must be fair among clients, and that transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner Mondrian deems equitable to each account. Mondrian further states that, when a combined order is executed in a series of transactions, at different prices, each account participating in the order may be allocated an average price obtained from the broker/dealer. Mondrian states that when a trade can be allocated in a cost efficient manner to Mondrian’s clients, it will be prorated across all participating accounts. Mondrian states that it may randomly allocate purchases or sales among participating accounts when the amounts involved are too small to be evenly proportioned in a cost efficient manner. In performing random allocations, Mondrian states that it will consider consistency of strategy implementation among participating accounts.

Allocation of investment opportunities

Mondrian states that it is an investment manager of multiple client portfolios and that, as such, it has to ensure that investment opportunities are allocated fairly between clients. Mondrian states that there is a potential risk that Mondrian may favor one client over another client in making allocations of investment opportunities. Mondrian further states that it makes security selection decisions at committee level and that those securities identified as investment opportunities are added to a list of approved securities; portfolios will hold only such approved securities. According to Mondrian, all portfolios governed by the same or a similar mandate will be structured similarly (that is, will hold the same or comparable stocks), and will exhibit similar characteristics. Mondrian states that sale and purchase opportunities identified at regular investment meetings will be applied to portfolios across the board, subject to the requirements of individual client mandates.

Allocation of IPO opportunities

Mondrian believes that Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) present a potential conflict of interest when they are priced at a discount to the anticipated secondary market price and the issuer has restricted or scaled back its allocation due to market demand. In such instances, the IPO allocation could be divided among a small select group of clients with others not receiving the allocation they would otherwise be entitled to. Mondrian states that its clients with relevant mandates are given an equal opportunity, proportionate to the size of their portfolio, to participate in IPO trades, and that all IPO purchases are allocated on a strict pro-rata basis.

Dealing in investments as principal in connection with the provision of seed capital

Mondrian believes that a conflict of interest exists when a portfolio management firm manages its own money alongside client money. Mondrian states that it generally does not trade for its own account. Mondrian further states, however, that Mondrian affiliates have provided the seed capital to certain investment vehicles that have been established by Mondrian group entities. Mondrian states that it serves as the investment manager to these investment vehicles and that it operates dealing policies designed to ensure the fair and equal treatment of all clients, e.g., the allocation of aggregated trades among clients. Mondrian states that these policies ensure that any portfolios in which Mondrian has an investment interest do not receive favorable treatment relative to other client portfolios.

Directorships and external arrangements

Mondrian states that certain of its staff may hold positions in external organizations. Mondrian believes that there is a potential risk that Mondrian personnel may place their own interests (resulting from outside employment / directorships) ahead of the interests of Mondrian clients. Mondrian states that, before accepting an executive or non-executive directorship or any other appointment in another company, employees, including executive directors, must obtain the prior approval of Mondrian’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Mondrian states that its Chief Compliance Officer

 

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(“CCO”) must also be informed of all such appointments and changes. Mondrian states that its CEO and CCO will only permit appointments that would not present a conflict of interest with the individual’s responsibilities to Mondrian clients.

Dual agency

Mondrian believes that “dual agency” (also known as Cross Trading) concerns those transactions where Mondrian may act as agent for both the buyer and seller. Mondrian believes that in such circumstances, there is a potential conflict of interest as it may be possible to favor one client over another when establishing the execution price and/or commission rate. Although it rarely does so, Mondrian states that it may act as agent for both buying and selling parties with respect to transactions in investments. Mondrian further states that, if Mondrian proposes to act in such capacity, Mondrian’s portfolio manager will first obtain approval from the Mondrian’s CCO. Mondrian states that its CCO has an obligation to ensure that both parties are treated fairly in any such trade.

Employee personal account dealing

Mondrian believes that there are a number of potential conflicts when staff of an investment firm engage in buying and selling securities for their personal account. Mondrian states that it has arrangements in place to ensure that none of its directors, officers or employees (or persons connected to them by way of a business or domestic relationship) effects any transaction for their own account which conflicts with client interests. Mondrian states that its rules which govern personal account dealing and general ethical standards are set out in Mondrian’s Code of Ethics.

Gifts and entertainment (received)

Mondrian has indicated that in the normal course of its business, Mondrian employees may receive gifts and entertainment from third parties, e.g., brokers and other service providers and that this results in a potential conflict of interest when selecting third parties to provide services to Mondrian and its clients. Mondrian states that it has a policy which requires that gifts and entertainment received are reported to Mondrian’s CCO (any items in excess of £10 ($15) require pre-approval), and that all gifts and entertainment are reviewed by Mondrian to ensure that they are not inappropriate and that Mondrian staff have not been unduly influenced by them.

Gifts and entertainment (given)

In addition, Mondrian states that, in the normal course of business, its employees may provide gifts and entertainment to third parties. Mondrian believes that excessively lavish gifts and entertainment would be inappropriate. Mondrian states that it has a policy which requires that any gifts and entertainment provided are reported to Mondrian’s CCO (any items in excess of £200 ($300) require pre-approval), and that all gifts and entertainment are reviewed by Mondrian to ensure that they are not inappropriate and that Mondrian staff have not attempted to obtain undue influence from them.

Performance fees

Mondrian believes that where an investment firm has clients with a performance fee arrangement, there is a risk that those clients could be favored over clients without performance fees. Mondrian states that it charges fees as a proportion of assets under management. In a very limited number of situations, in addition to this fee basis, certain accounts also include a performance fee. Mondrian believes that the potential conflict of interest arising from these fee arrangements is addressed by Mondrian’s procedures for the allocation of aggregated trades among clients. Mondrian states that it allocates investment opportunities among its clients totally independently of fee arrangements.

Soft dollar arrangements

Mondrian has indicated that it may use client funds to pay brokerage commissions for the execution of transactions in the client’s portfolio. Mondrian states that, as part of that execution service, brokers generally provide proprietary research to their clients as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing of analyses and reports concerning issuers, securities or industries; and providing information on economic factors and trends. Mondrian states that it may use this proprietary research in connection with its investment decision-making process with respect to one or more accounts managed by it, and it may or may not be used, or used exclusively, with respect to the account generating the brokerage. With the exception of the receipt of proprietary research, Mondrian states that it has no other soft dollar or commission sharing arrangements in place with brokers.

 

(17)

MSIM: Because the portfolio managers may manage assets for other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, and/or other accounts (including institutional clients, pension plans and certain high net worth individuals), there may be an incentive to favor one client over another resulting in conflicts of interest. For instance, the Subadviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. In those instances, the portfolio managers may have an incentive to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee accounts over the fund. In addition, a conflict of interest could exist to the extent the Subadviser has proprietary investments in certain accounts, where portfolio managers have personal investments in certain accounts

 

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  or when certain accounts are investment options in the Subadviser’s employee benefits and/or deferred compensation plans. The portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor these accounts over others. If the Subadviser manages accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the fund invests, the Subadviser could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall. The Subadviser has adopted trade allocation and other policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to address these and other conflicts of interest.

 

(18) NFJ: Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, a portfolio manager for a Fund may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the Fund and other accounts at the same time. The paragraphs below describe some of these potential conflicts, which NFJ believes are faced by investment professionals at most major financial firms. NFJ, the Adviser and the Trustees have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of these potential conflicts. The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”), may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. These conflicts may include, among others:

 

   

The most attractive investments could be allocated to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts.

 

   

The trading of higher-fee accounts could be favored as to timing and/or execution price. For example, higher fee accounts could be permitted to sell securities earlier than other accounts when a prompt sale is desirable or to buy securities at an earlier and more opportune time.

 

   

The investment management team could focus their time and efforts primarily on higher-fee accounts due to a personal stake in compensation.

A potential conflict of interest may arise when a Fund and other accounts purchase or sell the same securities. On occasions when a portfolio manager considers the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of a Fund as well as other accounts, the NFJ’s trading desk may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if one account is favored over another in allocating securities purchased or sold – for example, by allocating a disproportionate amount of a security that is likely to increase in value to a favored account.

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of a Fund and other accounts. For example, another account may have a shorter-term investment horizon or different investment objectives, policies or restrictions than a Fund. Depending on another account’s objectives or other factors, a portfolio manager may give advice and make decisions that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to a Fund. In addition, investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain accounts even though it could have been bought or sold for other accounts at the same time. More rarely, a particular security may be bought for one or more accounts managed by a portfolio manager when one or more other accounts are selling the security. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts.

A Fund’s portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. As a result, the portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts overseen by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

A Fund’s portfolio managers may be able to select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the Funds. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might have otherwise been available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or accounts than to others. Although the payment of brokerage commissions is subject to the requirement that the portfolio manager determine in good faith that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided to the Fund and NFJ’s other clients, a portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages. See “Brokerage and Research Services”.

 

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A Fund’s portfolio managers may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing a Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist in managing both the Funds and other accounts. In addition, a Fund’s portfolio manager may also manage other accounts (including their personal assets or the assets of family members) in their personal capacity. The management of these accounts may also involve certain of the potential conflicts described above. Front-running could also exist if a portfolio manager transacted in his own account prior to placing an order for a Fund or other clients. NFJ’s investment personnel, including each Fund’s portfolio manager, are subject to restrictions on engaging in personal securities transactions, pursuant to a code of ethics adopted by NFJ, which contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds.

 

(19) Winslow Capital: A portfolio manager who makes investment decisions with respect to multiple funds and/or other accounts may be presented with one or more of the following potential conflicts:

 

   

The management of multiple funds and/or accounts may result in the portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each fund and/or account;

 

   

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one fund or account managed by the portfolio manager, a fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager; and

 

   

An apparent conflict may arise where an adviser receives higher fees from certain funds or accounts that it manages than from others, or where an adviser receives a performance-based fee from certain funds or accounts that it manages and not from others. In these cases, there may be an incentive for a portfolio manager to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee funds or accounts over other funds or accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

To address potential conflicts of interest, Winslow has adopted various policies and procedures to provide for equitable treatment of trading activity and to ensure that investment opportunities are allocated in a fair and appropriate manner. In addition, Winslow has adopted a Code of Ethics that recognizes the manager’s obligation to treat all of its clients, including the Fund, fairly and equitably. These policies, procedures and the Code of Ethics are designed to restrict the portfolio manager from favoring one client over another. There is no guarantee that the policies, procedures and the Code of Ethics will be successful in every instance, however because Winslow offers only one investment product: Large Cap Growth, and all accounts are managed essentially identically, Winslow does not believe any material conflicts of interest exist between the investment strategy of the Fund and the investment strategy of the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, nor in allocation of investment opportunities.

 

(20) Palisade: Like every investment adviser, Palisade is confronted with conflicts of interest when providing investment management services to multiple accounts with different fee structures. Palisade receives both asset-based and performance-based fees for managing three other accounts in the same strategy as the Fund. Palisade has adopted and implemented policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of interest relating to the management of multiple accounts, including accounts with multiple fee arrangements, and the allocation of investment opportunities. Palisade generally employs a “block” trading and pro-rata allocation procedure to avoid conflicts between similarly managed accounts. Palisade reviews investment decisions for the purpose of ensuring that all accounts with substantially similar investment objectives are treated equitably. The performance of similarly managed accounts is also regularly compared to determine whether there are any unexplained significant discrepancies. In addition, Palisade’s procedures relating to the allocation of investment opportunities require that similarly managed accounts participate in investment opportunities pro rata based on asset size, using equivalent investment weightings, giving consideration to client restrictions, liquidity requirements, and available cash in the accounts, and require that, to the extent orders are aggregated, the client orders are price-averaged. Finally, Palisade’s procedures require the objective allocation for limited opportunities (such as initial public offerings and private placements) to ensure fair and equitable allocation among accounts. These areas are monitored by Palisade’s Chief Compliance Officer and the entire Palisade compliance department. Palisade has a Conflicts of Interest Committee to address any potential conflicts among its investment portfolios. Whenever a portfolio manager, analyst, or trader has a question concerning a conflict regarding allocation of investment opportunities, such conflict is directed to a member of the Committee. The available members of the Committee can meet or conference quickly to resolve issues.

 

(21)

TLC: As an investment advisor, London Company understands that certain conflicts of interest may arise when managing multiple accounts. TLC has adopted policies and procedures intended to minimize the effects of any conflicts. Though the Portfolio Managers have a general model they follow based on common account objectives, each account is managed individually. Every effort is made to block trades and allocate executed trades on a pro-rata basis. However, due to the firm’s desire to manage accounts on a case by case basis, there are times when a security may be bought in

 

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  one account and not other accounts. Portfolio managers look at each account on an individual basis and when a trade order is given, the manager cannot always control that an order for that security may have been given in the recent past or will be given in the immediate future for that same security in another account. As a result, while every effort will be made to maintain fair and equitable allocation, the portfolio manager may supply trade directives for the same security over the course of several days as he adjusts account positions for each account.

 

(22) WellsCap: Wells Capital Management’s portfolio managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, Wells Capital Management has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.

 

(23) BHMS:  Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account (including the Fund). BHMS manages potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts through allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes and oversight by directors and independent third parties to ensure that no client, regardless of type or fee structure, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.

 

(24) Denver:  Denver Investment Advisors LLC (“Denver Investments”) has adopted policies and procedures that address potential conflicts of interest that may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account, such as conflicts relating to the allocation of limited investment opportunities, the order of executing transactions when the aggregation of the order is not possible, personal investing activities, structure of portfolio manager compensation. While there is no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be effective in all cases, Denver Investments believes that its policies and procedures and associated controls relating to potential material conflicts of interest involving the fund and its other managed funds and accounts have been reasonably designed.

 

(25) Donald Smith:  Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is very sensitive to conflicts of interest that could possibly arise in its capacity of serving as an investment adviser. It remains committed to resolving any and all conflicts in the best interest of its clients. Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is an independent investment advisor with no parent or subsidiary organizations. Additionally, it has no brokerage or investment banking activities.

Clients include mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations, and other separate accounts. Donald Smith & Co., Inc. has put in place systems, policies and procedures, which have been designed to maintain fairness in portfolio management across all clients. Potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts are managed via allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes, and direct oversight by Donald G. Smith, President.

 

(26) Turner:  As is typical for many money managers, potential conflicts of interest may arise related to Turner’s management of accounts including the fund where not all accounts are able to participate in a desired IPO, or other limited opportunity, relating to use of soft dollars and other brokerage practices, related to the voting of proxies, employee personal securities trading, and relating to a variety of other circumstances. In all cases, however, Turner believes it has written policies and procedures in place reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws and to prevent material conflicts of interest from arising. Please also see Turner’s Form ADV, Part 2A for a description of some of its policies and procedures in this regard.

 

(27) River Road:  Portfolio managers at River Road Asset Management (River Road) may manage one or more mutual funds as well as other types of accounts, including separate accounts for institutions and individuals, and other pooled investment vehicles. Portfolio managers make investment decisions for an account or portfolio based on its investment objectives and policies, and other relevant investment considerations. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle whose fees may be materially greater than the management fees paid by the fund and may include a performance-based fee. Management of multiple funds and accounts may create potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, and the aggregation and allocation of trades. In addition, River Road monitors a variety of areas (e.g., allocation of investment opportunities) and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics.

River Road has a fiduciary responsibility to all of the clients for which it manages accounts. River Road seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. River Road has developed policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the management of multiple types of accounts for multiple clients.

 

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(28) Pyramis: A portfolio managers’ compensation plan (described below) may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. Although investors in a fund may invest through either tax-deferred accounts or taxable accounts, a portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax performance of the fund, rather than its after-tax performance. A portfolio managers’ base pay tends to increase with additional and more complex responsibilities that include increased assets under management, and a portion of the bonus relates to marketing efforts, which together indirectly link compensation to sales.

When a portfolio manager takes over a fund or an account, the time period over which performance is measured may be adjusted to provide a transition period in which to assess the portfolio. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees as a portfolio managers must allocate their time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In addition, a fund’s trade allocation policies and procedures may give rise to conflicts of interest if the fund’s orders do not get fully executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts managed by Pyramis or an affiliate. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the Portfolios. Securities selected for funds or accounts other than the Portfolios may outperform the securities selected for the Portfolios. Portfolio managers may be permitted to invest in the funds they manage, even if a fund is closed to new investors. Trading in personal accounts, which may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, is restricted by a fund’s Code of Ethics.

 

(29) Sit Investment: Sit Investment provides similar fee based investment management services to other clients. Sit Investment’s other clients may have investment objectives and strategies similar the Fund. Sit Investment is subject to various conflicts of interest in the performance of its duties and obligations in connection with Fund’s investments and the investments of the other client accounts managed by Sit Investment. Such conflicts include: the advice and action taken with respect to the Fund’s investments may differ from the advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to other clients; and the allocation of management time, resources, investment opportunities and aggregated transactions among the clients’ accounts including the Fund. Conflicts of interest may be heightened by the existence of Sit Investment’s proprietary investments. Sit Investment has adopted policies and procedures designed to address these conflicts to ensure that whenever conflicts of interest arise Sit Investment will endeavor to exercise its discretion in a manner that it believes is equitable to all interested persons.

 

(30) TCW: TCW’s portfolio managers could favor one account over another in allocating new investment opportunities that have limited supply, such as (by way of example but not limitation) initial public offerings and private placements. If, for example, an initial public offering that was expected to appreciate in value significantly shortly after the offering was allocated to a single account, that account may be expected to have better investment performance than other accounts that did not receive an allocation of a particular initial public offering.

A TCW portfolio manager could favor one account over another in the order in which trades for the accounts are placed. If a TCW portfolio manager decides to purchase a security for more than one account in an aggregate amount that may influence the market price of the security, accounts that purchased or sold the security first may receive a more favorable price than accounts that made subsequent transactions. The less liquid the market for the security or the greater the percentage that the proposed aggregate purchases or sales represent of average daily trading volume, the greater the potential for accounts that make subsequent purchases or sales to receive a less favorable price. When a TCW portfolio manager intends to trade the same security on the same day for more than one account, the trades typically are “bunched,” which means that the trades for the individual accounts are aggregated and each account receives the same price. There are some types of accounts for which bunching may not be possible for contractual reasons. Circumstances may also arise in which the trader believes that bunching the orders may not result in the best possible price. Where those accounts or circumstances are involved, the TCW portfolio manager will place the order in a manner intended to result in as favorable a price as possible for such clients.

A TCW portfolio manager potentially could favor an account if that portfolio manager’s compensation is tied to the performance of that account to a greater degree than other accounts managed by the TCW portfolio manager. If, for example, the TCW portfolio manager receives a bonus based upon the performance of certain accounts relative to a benchmark while other accounts are disregarded for this purpose, the TCW portfolio manager may have a financial incentive to seek to have the accounts that determine the portfolio manager’s bonus achieve the best possible performance to the possible detriment of other accounts. Similarly, if TCW receives a performance-based advisory fee from an account, the TCW portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor that account, whether or not the performance of that account directly determines the portfolio manager’s compensation. This structure may create inherent pressure to allocate investments having a greater potential for higher returns to those accounts with higher performance fees.

 

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A portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor an account if the TCW portfolio manager has a beneficial interest in the account, in order to benefit a large client or to compensate a client that had poor returns. For example, if the TCW portfolio manager held an interest in an investment partnership that was one of the accounts managed by the portfolio manager, the TCW portfolio manager would have an economic incentive to favor the account in which the portfolio manager held an interest.

TCW determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution, and aggregates like orders where it believes doing so is beneficial to its client accounts. However, with respect to certain separate accounts, TCW may be limited by the clients or other constraints with respect to the selection of brokers or it may be instructed to direct trades through particular brokers. In these cases, TCW may place separate, non-simultaneous transactions for the Core Fixed Income and U.S. Fixed Income Funds and another account which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction to the detriment of one or the other.

If different accounts have materially and potentially conflicting investment objectives or strategies, a conflict of interest could arise. For example, if a TCW portfolio manager purchases a security for one account and sells the same security short for another account, such trading pattern may disadvantage either the account that is long or short. In making portfolio manager assignments, TCW seeks to avoid such potentially conflicting situations. However, where a TCW portfolio manager is responsible for accounts with differing investment objectives and policies, it is possible that the portfolio manager will conclude that it is in the best interest of one account to sell a portfolio security while another account continues to hold or increase the holding in such security.

TCW has in place a Code of Ethics designed to minimize conflicts of interest between clients and its investment personnel. TCW also reviews potential conflicts of interest through its Trading and Allocation Committee.

 

(31) Victory Capital: The portfolio managers at Victory Capital typically manage multiple portfolios using a substantially similar investment strategy as the Fund. The management of multiple portfolios may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. Victory Capital has developed policies and procedures designed to reasonably mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side account management. Accounts participating in the same strategy are block traded to ensure that no account receives preferential treatment and to ensure consistency. In addition, all qualifying accounts participate in a composite and are, therefore, monitored for deviation via monthly composite reporting. Also, Victory has adopted trade allocation procedures that require equitable allocation of trade orders for a particular security among participating accounts.

Structure of Compensation

(32) Columbia Management:  Direct compensation is typically comprised of a base salary, and an annual incentive award that is paid either in the form of a cash bonus if the size of the award is under a specified threshold, or, if the size of the award is over a specified threshold, the award is paid in a combination of a cash bonus, an equity incentive award, and deferred compensation. Equity incentive awards are made in the form of Ameriprise Financial restricted stock, or for more senior employees both Ameriprise Financial restricted stock and stock options. The investment return credited on deferred compensation is based on the performance of specified Columbia Mutual funds, in most cases including the mutual funds the portfolio manager manages.

Base salary is typically determined based on market data relevant to the employee’s position, as well as other factors including internal equity. Base salaries are reviewed annually, and increases are typically given as promotional increases, internal equity adjustments, or market adjustments.

Annual incentive awards are variable and are based on (1) an evaluation of the employee’s investment performance and (2) the results of a peer and/or management review of the employee, which takes into account skills and attributes such as team participation, investment process, communication, and professionalism. Scorecards are used to measure performance of Mutual Funds and other accounts managed by the employee versus benchmarks and peer groups. Performance versus benchmark and peer group is generally weighted for the rolling one, three, and five year periods. One year performance is weighted 10%, three year performance is weighted 60%, and five year performance is weighted 30%. Relative asset size is a key determinant for fund weighting on a scorecard. Typically, weighting would be proportional to actual assets. Consideration may also be given to performance in managing client assets in sectors and industries assigned to the employee as part of his/her investment team responsibilities, where applicable. For leaders who also have group management responsibilities, another factor in their evaluation is an assessment of the group’s overall investment performance.

Equity incentive awards are designed to align participants’ interests with those of the shareholders of Ameriprise Financial. Equity incentive awards vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.

 

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Deferred compensation awards are designed to align participants’ interests with the investors in the mutual funds and other accounts they manage. The value of the deferral account is based on the performance of Columbia mutual funds. Employees have the option of selecting from various Columbia mutual funds for their mutual fund deferral account, however portfolio managers must allocate a minimum of 25% of their incentive awarded through the deferral program to the Columbia mutual fund(s) they manage. Mutual fund deferrals vest over multiple years, so they help retain employees.

Exceptions to this general approach to bonuses exist for certain teams and individuals.

Funding for the bonus pool is determined by management and depends on, among other factors, the levels of compensation generally in the investment management industry taking into account investment performance (based on market compensation data) and both Ameriprise Financial and Columbia Management profitability for the year, which is largely determined by assets under management.

For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.

 

(33) American Century: American Century portfolio manager compensation is structured to align the interests of portfolio managers with those of the shareholders whose assets they manage. As of December 31, 2013, it includes the components described below, each of which is determined with reference to a number of factors such as overall performance, market competition, and internal equity. Compensation is not directly tied to the value of assets held in client portfolios.

BASE SALARY

Portfolio managers receive base pay in the form of a fixed annual salary.

BONUS

A significant portion of portfolio manager compensation takes the form of an annual incentive bonus tied to performance. Bonus payments are determined by a combination of factors. One factor is fund investment performance. For most American Century mutual funds, investment performance is measured by a combination of one-, three- and five-year pre-tax performance relative to various benchmarks and/or internally-customized peer groups. The performance comparison periods may be adjusted based on a fund’s inception date or a portfolio manager’s tenure on the fund. Custom peer groups are constructed using all the funds in the indicated categories as a starting point. Funds are then eliminated from the peer group based on a standardized methodology designed to result in a final peer group that is both more stable over the long term (i.e., has less peer turnover) and that more closely represents the fund’s true peers based on internal investment mandates.

Portfolio managers may have responsibility for multiple American Century mutual funds. In such cases, the performance of each is assigned a percentage weight appropriate for the portfolio manager’s relative levels of responsibility.

Portfolio managers also may have responsibility for portfolios that are managed in a fashion similar to that of other American Century mutual funds. This is the case for Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund. If the performance of a similarly managed account is considered for purposes of compensation, it is either measured in the same way as a comparable American Century mutual fund (i.e., relative to the performance of a benchmark and/or peer group) or relative to the performance of such mutual fund. Performance of Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund is not separately considered in determining portfolio manager compensation.

A second factor in the bonus calculation relates to the performance of a number of American Century funds managed according to one of the following investment styles: U.S. growth, U.S. value, quantitative, international and fixed-income. Performance is measured for each product individually as described above and then combined to create an overall composite for the product group. These composites may measure one-year performance (equal weighted) or a combination of one-, three- and five-year performance (equal or asset weighted) depending on the portfolio manager’s responsibilities and products managed. This feature is designed to encourage effective teamwork among portfolio management teams in achieving long-term investment success for similarly styled portfolios.

A portion of portfolio managers’ bonuses may be tied to individual performance goals, such as research projects and the development of new products.

RESTRICTED STOCK PLANS

Portfolio managers are eligible for grants of restricted stock of ACC. These grants are discretionary, and eligibility and availability can vary from year to year. The size of an individual’s grant is determined by individual and product performance as well as other product-specific considerations. Grants can appreciate/depreciate in value based on the performance of the ACC stock during the restriction period (generally three to four years).

 

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DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

Portfolio managers are eligible for grants of deferred compensation. These grants are used in limited situations, primarily for retention purposes. Grants are fixed and can appreciate/depreciate in value based on the performance of the American Century mutual funds in which the portfolio manager chooses to invest them.

 

(34) BlackRock: BlackRock’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock.

Base compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm.

Discretionary Incentive Compensation. Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm’s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual’s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the performance of the Fund or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured. Among other things, BlackRock’s Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio manager’s compensation based on the performance of the Funds and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis over various time periods including 1-, 3- and 5- year periods, as applicable. With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Fund and other accounts are:

 

Portfolio Manager   

Benchmark

Martin Hegarty    A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Barclays Capital US TIPS Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.
Brian Weinstein    A combination of market-based indices (e.g., Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.

Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation. Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash and BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units which vest ratably over a number of years. For some portfolio managers, discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage and that vest ratably over a number of years. The BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units, upon vesting, will be settled in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Typically, the cash portion of the discretionary incentive compensation, when combined with base salary, represents more than 60% of total compensation for the portfolio managers. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in BlackRock stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year “at risk” based on BlackRock’s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. Providing a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in deferred cash awards that notionally track the BlackRock investment products they manage provides direct alignment with investment product results.

Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards — From time to time long-term incentive equity awards are granted to certain key employees to aid in retention, align their interests with long-term shareholder interests and motivate performance. Equity awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Mr. Weinstein has received long-term incentive awards.

Deferred Compensation Program — A portion of the compensation paid to eligible BlackRock employees may be voluntarily deferred at their election for defined periods of time into an account that tracks the performance of certain of the firm’s investment products. All of the eligible portfolio managers have participated in the deferred compensation program.

Other compensation benefits. In addition to base compensation and discretionary incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following:

Incentive Savings Plans — BlackRock, Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k) plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation up to the IRS limit ($255,000 for 2013). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds

 

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managed by the firm. BlackRock contributions follow the investment direction set by participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into a target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65. The ESPP allows for investment in BlackRock common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date. Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its fair market value on the Purchase Date. All of the eligible portfolio managers are eligible to participate in these plans.

 

(35) Columbia WAM: For services performed for the 2012 calendar year and incentives paid in early 2013, Messrs. Mendes, Olson, Mohn and Frank, analysts and other key employees of the Adviser received all of their compensation in the form of salary and incentive compensation provided in whole by Ameriprise Financial. Typically, a high proportion of an analyst’s or portfolio manager’s incentive compensation is paid in cash with a smaller proportion going into two separate incentive plans. The first plan is a notional investment based on the performance of certain Columbia Funds, including the Columbia Acorn Funds. The second plan consists of Ameriprise Financial restricted stock and/or options. Both plans vest over three years from the date of issuance.

Portfolio managers and key analysts are positioned in compensation tiers based on cumulative performance of the portfolios/stocks that they manage and their total responsibilities, the objective being to provide very competitive total compensation for high performing analysts and portfolio managers. Portfolio manager performance is measured versus primary portfolio benchmarks. Analyst performance is measured versus a custom benchmark for each analyst. One- and three-year performance periods primarily drove incentive levels through 2012, and a five-year performance period was added beginning in 2013. Incentive compensation varies by tier and through 2012 ranged from between a fraction of base pay to a multiple of base pay. Beginning in 2013, the range of incentive compensation was widened to zero on the low end, and on the high end to an increased amount equal to the amount by which the low end was decreased. Incentives are adjusted up or down up to 15% of high/low ranges based on qualitative performance factors, which include investment performance impacts not included in benchmarks such as industry (or country) weighting recommendations, plus adherence to compliance standards, business building, and citizenship. Less seasoned analysts’ incentives are also based on performance versus benchmarks, though they are less formulaic in order to emphasize investment process instead of initial investment results. The qualitative factors discussed above are also considered. These analysts participate in an incentive pool which is based on a formula primarily driven by firm-wide investment performance.

In addition, the incentive amounts available for the entire pool are adjusted up or down based upon the increase/decrease in the Investment Manager’s revenues versus an agreed upon base revenue amount. Investment performance, however, impacts incentives far more than revenues. The Adviser determines incentive compensation adhering to the formulas, subject to review by Columbia Management and Ameriprise Financial.

 

(36) Threadneedle: To align the interests of our investment staff with those of our clients, the remuneration plan for senior individuals comprises basic salary and an annual profit share scheme (linked to individual performance and the profitability of the company) delivered partly as a cash incentive, and partly as a deferred long-term incentive which Threadneedle believes encourages longevity of service, split equally between Restricted Stock Units in Ameriprise Financial and reinvestment into a suite of Threadneedle’s own funds.

The split between each component within the remuneration package varies between investment professionals and will be dependent upon performance and the type of funds they manage.

Incentives are devised to reward:

 

   

investment performance and Threadneedle client requirements, in particular the alignment with Threadneedle clients through a mandatory deferral into our own products; and

 

   

team cooperation & values.

The split of the incentive pool focuses on the:

 

   

performance of the individual’s own funds and research recommendations;

 

   

performance of all portfolios in the individual’s team;

 

   

overall contribution to the wider thinking and success of the investment team, for example, idea generation, interaction with colleagues and commitment to assist with the sales effort; and

 

   

Threadneedle performance.

 

   

Consideration of the individual’s overall performance is designed to incentivise fund managers to think beyond personal portfolio performance and reflects contributions made in:

 

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inter-team discussions, including asset allocation, global sector themes and weekly investment meetings;

 

   

intra-team discussions, stock research and investment insights; and

 

   

a fund manager’s demonstration of Threadneedle values, as part of our team-based investment philosophy.

It is important to appreciate that for individuals to maximise their rating and hence their incentive remuneration they need to contribute in all areas. Importance is placed not only on producing strong fund performance but also contributing effectively to the team and the wider Investment department and on the Manager’s demonstration of Threadneedle’s corporate values. This structure is closely aligned with Threadneedle’s investment principles of sharing ideas and effective communication.

Investment professionals are formally reviewed once a year, and the performance year runs from January to December. However, we also take into consideration longer-term performance (rolling three and five years) together with a manager’s contribution to the investment dialogue and desk success and their control of and adherence to our risk controls.

 

(37) DFA: Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of DFA and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the mutual funds or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. DFA reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary . Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. DFA considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus . Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of DFA as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of DFA or its delegees. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in DFA’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

 

(38) Eaton Vance: Compensation paid by Eaton Vance to its portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus, and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting of options to purchase non-voting common stock of Eaton Vance Management’s corporate parent, Eaton Vance Corp., and restricted shares of Eaton Vance Corp.’s non-voting common stock. Eaton Vance management investment professionals also receive certain retirement, insurance, and other benefits that are broadly available to all Eaton Vance employees.

Compensation of Eaton Vance’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect at or shortly after the October 31 st fiscal year end of Eaton Vance Corp.

Eaton Vance Management compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the scale and complexity of their portfolio responsibilities and the total return performance of managed funds and accounts versus the benchmark(s) stated in the prospectus, as well as an appropriate peer group (as described below). In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to relative risk-adjusted performance. Risk-adjusted performance measures include, but are not limited to, the Sharpe ratio. Performance is normally based on periods ending on the September 30 th preceding fiscal year end. Fund performance is normally evaluated primarily versus peer groups of funds as determined by Lipper Inc. and/or Morningstar, Inc. When a fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper or Morningstar is deemed by Eaton Vance’s management not to provide a fair comparison, performance may instead be evaluated primarily against a custom peer group or market index. In evaluating the performance of a fund and its manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer and shorter periods. Performance is evaluated on a pre-tax basis. For funds with an investment objective other than total return (such as current income) consideration will also be given to the fund’s success in achieving its objective. For managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis, based on averages or weighted averages among managed funds and accounts. Funds and accounts that have performance-based advisory fees are not accorded disproportionate weightings

 

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in measuring aggregate portfolio manager performance. The compensation of portfolio managers with other job responsibilities (such as heading an investment group or providing analytical support to other portfolios) will include consideration of the scope of such responsibilities and the managers’ performance in meeting those responsibilities.

Eaton Vance Management seeks to compensate portfolio managers commensurate with their responsibilities and performance, and competitive with other firms within the investment management industry. Eaton Vance Management participates in investment-industry compensation surveys and utilizes survey data as a factor in determining salary, bonus, and stock-based compensation levels for portfolio managers and other investment professionals. Salaries, bonuses, and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of Eaton Vance Management and its parent company. Eaton Vance Management’s overall annual cash bonus pool is generally based on a substantially fixed percentage of pre-bonus adjusted operating income. While the salaries of Eaton Vance Management portfolio managers are comparatively fixed, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors described herein. For a high performing portfolio manager, cash bonuses and stock-based compensation may represent a substantial portion of total compensation.

 

(39) Holland: The subadviser maintains a competitive compensation program. The compensation for Portfolio Managers Monica L. Walker and Carl R. Bhathena, is comprised of base salary and annual cash bonuses dependent upon the performance of product portfolios and overall performance and profitability of the firm. Other factors considered with respect to their overall compensation package includes years of industry experience, competitive market factors and contribution to the subadviser’s success. The Portfolio Managers also have ownership interests in the subadviser and may receive income based upon the overall financial performance of the firm commensurate with their ownership interest.

 

(40) Invesco: Invesco seeks to maintain a compensation program that is competitively positioned to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Portfolio managers receive a base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity, and an equity compensation opportunity. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine bonuses to promote competitive fund performance. Invesco evaluates competitive market compensation by reviewing compensation survey results conducted by an independent third party of investment industry compensation. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following three elements:

Base Salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. In setting the base salary, Invesco’s intention is to be competitive in light of the particular portfolio manager’s experience and responsibilities.

Annual Bonus. The portfolio managers are eligible, along with other employees of Invesco, to participate in a discretionary year-end bonus pool. The Compensation Committee of Invesco Ltd. reviews and approves the amount of the bonus pool available considering investment performance and financial results in its review. In addition, while having no direct impact on individual bonuses, assets under management are considered when determining the starting bonus funding levels. Each portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus which is based on quantitative (i.e. investment performance) and non-quantitative factors (which may include, but are not limited to, individual performance, risk management and teamwork).

Each portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax investment performance of the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager as described in Table 1 below.

Table 1

 

Subadviser   

Performance time period (1)

Invesco (2)    One-, Three- and Five-year performance against Fund peer group.

 

  (1)   Rolling time periods based on calendar year-end.

 

  (2)   Portfolio Managers may be granted an annual deferral award that vests on a pro-rata basis over a four year period and final payments are based on the performance of eligible Funds selected by the portfolio manager at the time the award is granted.

High investment performance (against applicable peer group and/or benchmarks) would deliver compensation generally associated with top pay in the industry (determined by reference to the third-party provided compensation survey information) and poor investment performance (versus applicable peer group) would result in low bonus compared to the applicable peer group or no bonus at all. These decisions are reviewed and approved collectively by senior leadership which has responsibility for executing the compensation approach across the organization.

Deferred/Long Term Compensation. Portfolio managers may be granted an annual deferral award that allows them to select receipt of shares of certain Invesco Funds with a vesting period as well as common shares and/or restricted shares

 

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of Invesco Ltd. stock from pools determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee of Invesco Ltd.’s Board of Directors. Awards of deferred/long term compensation typically vest over time, so as to create incentives to retain key talent.

Portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees.

 

(41) JPMIM: J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.’s (JP Morgan) portfolio managers participate in a competitive compensation program that is designed to attract and retain outstanding people and closely link the performance of investment professionals to client investment objectives. The total compensation program includes a base salary fixed from year to year and a variable performance bonus consisting of cash incentives and restricted stock and may include mandatory notional investments (as described below) in selected mutual funds advised by JP Morgan or its affiliates. These elements reflect individual performance and the performance of JP Morgan’s business as a whole.

Each portfolio manager’s performance is formally evaluated annually based on a variety of factors including the aggregate size and blended performance of the portfolios such portfolio manager manages. Individual contribution relative to client goals carries the highest impact. Portfolio manager compensation is primarily driven by meeting or exceeding clients’ risk and return objectives, relative performance to competitors or competitive indices and compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements. In evaluating each portfolio manager’s performance with respect to the mutual funds he or she manages, the funds’ pre-tax performance is compared to the appropriate market peer group and to each fund’s benchmark index listed in the fund’s prospectus over one, three and five year periods (or such shorter time as the portfolio manager has managed the fund). Investment performance is generally more heavily weighted to the long term.

Awards of restricted stock are granted as part of an employee’s annual performance bonus and comprise from 0% to 40% of a portfolio manager’s total bonus. As the level of incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in restricted stock also increases. Up to 50% of the restricted stock portion of a portfolio manager’s bonus may instead be subject to a mandatory notional investment in selected mutual funds advised by JP Morgan or its affiliates. When these awards vest over time, the portfolio manager receives cash equal to the market value of the notional investment in the selected mutual funds.

 

(42) Jennison: Jennison seeks to maintain a highly competitive compensation program designed to attract and retain outstanding investment professionals, which include portfolio managers and research analysts, and to align the interests of its investment professionals with those of its clients and overall firm results. Overall firm profitability determines the total amount of incentive compensation pool that is available for investment professionals. Investment professionals are compensated with a combination of base salary and cash bonus. In general, the cash bonus comprises the majority of the compensation for investment professionals. Additionally, senior investment professionals, including portfolio managers and senior research analysts, are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation program where all or a portion of the cash bonus can be invested in a variety of predominantly Jennison-managed investment strategies on a tax-deferred basis.

Investment professionals’ total compensation is determined through a subjective process that evaluates numerous qualitative and quantitative factors. There is no particular weighting or formula for considering the factors. Some portfolio managers may manage or contribute ideas to more than one product strategy and are evaluated accordingly. The factors reviewed for the portfolio manager are listed below in order of importance.

The following primary quantitative factor is reviewed for the portfolio manager:

 

   

One and three year pre-tax investment performance of groupings of accounts relative to market conditions, pre-determined passive indices, such as the Russell Midcap ® Growth Index, and industry peer group data for the product strategy (e.g., large cap growth, large cap value) for which the portfolio manager is responsible;

The qualitative factors reviewed for the portfolio manager may include:

 

   

Historical and long-term business potential of the product strategies;

 

   

Qualitative factors such as teamwork and responsiveness; and

 

   

Other individual factors such as experience and other responsibilities such as being a team leader or supervisor may also affect an investment professional’s total compensation.

 

(43) Loomis Sayles : Compensation packages for investment professionals have two primary components: a competitive base salary and an incentive bonus weighted to reward long-term investment performance of the strategy. Maximum variable compensation potential is a function of base salary.

 

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The percentage of the yearly bonus reflects performance achievements relative to peers with similar disciplines and considers the asset class, experience, and maturity of the product in the formula’s weightings. The Large Cap Growth team incentive compensation is based on trailing strategy performance and is weighted at 50% for the three-year period, and 40% for the five-year period and 10% for seven-year period.

All members of the Large Cap Growth equity investment team, the portfolio manager and the dedicated analysts, are compensated according to the same metric: overall performance of the strategy. There is no component related to growth in assets under management.

Incentive Program

Loomis Sayles also has a long-term incentive program that has two segments. The first segment includes a select group of investment professionals who are granted units that entitle them to receive both annual payments based on Loomis Sayles’ earnings and additional post retirement payouts once their units vest. These units require participants to sign an award agreement, which includes a non-compete and a non-solicit covenant. The second segment includes other investment professionals and senior executives who also receive a share of annual earnings. Annual payments in this segment are deposited in an investment account for each participant, vesting over two years and distributed to the employee at the end of two years, provided that the employee remains with Loomis Sayles. This segment has no post-retirement payments.

 

(44) Marsic o Capital : The compensation package for portfolio managers of Marsico includes a competitive base salary reevaluated periodically and may include periodic cash bonues. Bonuses are typically based on two primary factors: (1) Marsico’s overall profitability for the period, and (2) individual efforts and achievements and other contributions benefitting the firm and/or clients. Base salaries also may be adjusted upward or downward based on similar factors. No other special employee incentive arrangements are currently in place or being planned.

Portfolio manager compensation generally takes into account, among other factors, the overall performance of all accounts for which the portfolio manager provides investment advisory services. In receiving compensation such as bonuses, portfolio managers do not receive special consideration based solely on the performance of particular accounts, and do not receive compensation from accounts charging performance-based fees. In addition to salary and bonus, Marsico’s portfolio managers may participate in other benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans on the same basis as other Marsico employees. Marsico’s portfolio managers also may be offered the opportunity to acquire equity interests in the firm’s parent company.

As a general matter, Marsico does not tie portfolio manager compensation to specific levels of performance relative to fixed benchmarks (e.g., S&P 500 Index). Although performance is a relevant consideration, comparisons with fixed benchmarks may not always be useful. Relevant benchmarks vary depending on specific investment styles and client guidelines or restrictions, and comparisons to benchmark performance may at times reveal more about market sentiment than about a portfolio manager’s performance or abilities. To encourage a long-term horizon for managing client assets and concurrently minimizing potential conflicts of interest and portfolios risks, Marsico evaluates a portfolio manager’s performance over periods longer than the immediate compensation period, and may consider a variety of measures in determining compensation, such as the performance of unaffiliated mutual funds or other portfolios having similar strategies as well as other measurements. Other factors that may be significant in determining portfolio manager compensation include, without limitation, the effectiveness of the manager’s leadership within Marsico’s investment management team, contributions to Marsico’s overall performance, discrete securities analysis, idea generation, the ability and willingness to support and train other analysts, and other considerations.

 

(45) MFS: Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually. As of December 31, 2012, portfolio manager total cash compensation is a combination of base salary and performance bonus:

Base Salary — Base salary represents a smaller percentage of portfolio manager total cash compensation than performance bonus.

Performance Bonus — Generally, the performance bonus represents more than a majority of portfolio manager total cash compensation.

The performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter.

The quantitative portion is based on the pre-tax performance of assets managed by the portfolio manager over one-, three-, and five-year periods relative to peer group universes and/or indices (“benchmarks”). As of December 31, 2012, the Russell 1000 Value Index was used to measure the portfolio managers performance for the Fund.

 

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Additional or different benchmarks, including versions of indices, custom indices, and linked indices that include performance of different indices for different portions of the time period, may also be used. Primary weight is given to portfolio performance over a three-year time period with lesser consideration given to portfolio performance over one-year and five-year periods (adjusted as appropriate if the portfolio manager has served for less than five years).

The qualitative portion is based on the results of an annual internal peer review process (conducted by other portfolio managers, analysts, and traders) and management’s assessment of overall portfolio manager contributions to investor relations and the investment process (distinct from fund and other account performance). This performance bonus may be in the form of cash and/or a deferred cash award, at the discretion of management. A deferred cash award is issued for a cash value and becomes payable over a three-year vesting period if the portfolio manager remains in the continuous employ of MFS or its affiliates. During the vesting period, the value of the unfunded deferred cash award will fluctuate as though the portfolio manager had invested the cash value of the award in an MFS Fund(s) selected by the portfolio manager. A selected fund may be, but is not required to be, a fund that is managed by the portfolio manager.

Portfolio managers also typically benefit from the opportunity to participate in the MFS Equity Plan. Equity interests and/or options to acquire equity interests in MFS or its parent company are awarded by management, on a discretionary basis, taking into account tenure at MFS, contribution to the investment process, and other factors.

Finally, portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans (including a defined contribution plan and health and other insurance plans) and programs available generally to other employees of MFS. The percentage such benefits represent of any portfolio manager’s compensation depends upon the length of the individual’s tenure at MFS and salary level, as well as other factors.

 

(46) Mondrian: Mondrian states that it compensates its portfolio managers as follows:

 

  1. Competitive Salary — All investment professionals are remunerated with a competitive base salary.

 

  2. Profit Sharing Bonus Pool — All Mondrian staff, including portfolio managers and senior officers, qualify for participation in an annual profit sharing pool determined by the company’s profitability (approximately 30% of profits).

 

  3. Equity Ownership — Mondrian is 100% employee owned. A high proportion of senior Mondrian staff (investment professionals and other support functions) are shareholders in the business. Equity value is built up over many years with long vesting periods and the value of any individual’s equity is normally paid out in instalments over a number of years post an agreed retirement from the firm. This is a (very) long term incentive plan directly tied to the long term equity value of the firm

Mondrian states that its incentives (Bonus and Equity Programs) focus on the key areas of a) research quality, b) long-term and short-term stock performance, c) teamwork, d) client service and e) marketing. As an individual’s ability to influence these factors depends on that individual’s position and seniority within the firm, so the allocation to these factors and of participation in these programs will reflect this.

Mondrian states that, at Mondrian, the investment management of particular portfolios is not “star manager” based but uses a team system. This means that Mondrian’s investment professionals are primarily assessed on their contribution to the team’s effort and results, though with an important element of their assessment being focused on the quality of their individual research contribution.

Remuneration Committee

In determining the amount of bonuses and equity awarded, Mondrian states that its Board of Directors consults with the company’s Remuneration Committee, who will make recommendations based on a number of factors including investment research, investment performance contribution, organization management, team work, client servicing and marketing.

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Mondrian states that all portfolio managers are members of the Mondrian defined contribution pension plan where Mondrian pays a regular monthly contribution and the member may pay additional voluntary contributions if they wish. Mondrian further states that the Plan is governed by Trustees who have responsibility for the trust fund and payments of benefits to members and that, in addition, the Plan provides death benefits for death in service and a spouse’s or dependents’ pension may also be payable.

Mondrian believes that this compensation structure, coupled with the opportunities that exist within a successful and growing business, should enable us to attract and retain high caliber employees.

 

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(47) MSIM: Morgan Stanley’s compensation structure is based on a total reward system of base salary and Incentive Compensation which is paid partially as a cash bonus and partially as mandatory deferred compensation. Deferred compensation may be granted as deferred cash under the Adviser’s Investment Management Alignment Plan (“IMAP”), as an equity-based awards or it may be granted under other plans as determined annually by Morgan Stanley’s Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee subject to vesting and other conditions.

Base salary compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base salary compensation based on the level of their position with the Adviser.

Incentive compensation. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary year-end compensation.

Incentive compensation may include:

 

   

Cash Bonus.

 

   

Deferred Compensation:

 

   

A mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation into restricted stock units or other awards based on Morgan Stanley common stock or other plans that are subject to vesting and other conditions.

 

   

IMAP is a mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation and notionally invests it in designated funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates. The award is subject to vesting and other conditions. Portfolio managers must notionally invest a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 100% of their IMAP deferral account into a combination of the designated funds they manage that are included in the IMAP fund menu, which may or may not include one of the Portfolios.

All deferred compensation awards are subject to clawback provisions where awards can be cancelled, in whole or in part, if an employee takes any action, or omits to take any action which; causes a restatement of Morgan Stanley’s consolidated financial results; constitutes a violation by the portfolio manager of Morgan Stanley’s Global Risk Management Principles, Policies and Standards; or constitutes violation of internal risk and control policies involving a subsequent loss.

Several factors determine discretionary compensation, which can vary by portfolio management team and circumstances. These factors include:

 

   

Revenues generated by the investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

 

   

The investment performance of the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

 

   

Contribution to the business objectives of the Adviser.

 

   

The dollar amount of assets managed by the portfolio manager.

 

   

Market compensation survey research by independent third parties.

 

   

Other qualitative factors, such as contributions to client objectives.

 

   

Performance of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, and the overall performance of the investment team(s) of which the portfolio manager is a member.

 

(48) NFJ: Our compensation system is designed to support our corporate values and culture. While we acknowledge the importance of financial incentives and seek to pay top quartile compensation for top quartile performance, we also believe that compensation is only one of a number of critically important elements that allow the emergence of a strong, winning culture that attracts, retains and motivates talented investors and teams.

The primary components of compensation are the base salary and an annual discretionary variable compensation payment. This variable compensation component typically comprises a cash bonus that pays out immediately as well as a deferred component, for members of staff whose variable compensation exceeds a certain threshold. The deferred component for most recipients would be a notional award of the Long Term Incentive Program (LTIP); for members of staff whose variable compensation exceeds an additional threshold, the deferred compensation is itself split 50%/50% between the LTIP and a Deferral into Funds program (DIF). Currently, the marginal rate of deferral of the variable compensation can reach 42% for those in the highest variable compensation bracket. Overall awards, splits and components are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet industry best practice and, where applicable, at a minimum comply with regulatory standards.

 

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Base salary typically reflects scope, responsibilities and experience required in a particular role, be it on the investment side or any other function in our company. Base compensation is regularly reviewed against peers with the help of compensation survey data. Base compensation is typically a greater percentage of total compensation for more junior positions, while for the most senior roles it will be a comparatively small component, often capped and only adjusted every few years.

Discretionary variable compensation is primarily designed to reflect the achievements of an individual against set goals, over a certain time period. For an investment professional these goals will typically be 70% quantitative and 30% qualitative. The former will reflect a weighted average of investment performance over a three-year rolling time period (one-year (25%) and three year (75%) results) and the latter reflects contributions to broader team goals, contributions made to client review meetings, product development or product refinement initiatives. Portfolio managers have their performance metric aligned with the benchmarks of the client portfolios they manage.

The LTIP element of the variable compensation cliff vests three years after each (typically annual) award. Its value is directly tied to the operating result of Allianz Global Investors over the three year period of the award.

The DIF element of the variable compensation cliff vests three years after each (typically annual) award and enables these members of staff to invest in a range of Allianz Global Investors funds (investment professionals are encouraged to invest into their own funds or funds where they may be influential from a research or product group relationship perspective). Again, the value of the DIF awards is determined by the growth of the fund(s) value over the three year period covering each award.

Assuming an annual deferral of 33% over a three year period, a typical member of staff will have roughly one year’s variable compensation (3x33%) as a deferred component ‘in the bank’. Three years after the first award, and for as long as deferred components were awarded without break, cash payments in each year will consist of the annual cash bonus for that current year’s performance as well as a payout from LTIP/DIF commensurate with the prior cumulative three-year performance.

There are a small number of revenue sharing arrangements that generate variable compensation for specialist investment teams, as well as commission payments for a limited number of members of staff in distribution. These payments are subject to the same deferral rules and deferred instruments as described above for the discretionary compensation element.

In addition to competitive compensation, the firm’s approach to retention includes providing a challenging career path for each professional, a supportive culture to ensure each employee’s progress and a full benefits package.

 

(49) Winslow Capital: In an effort to retain key personnel, Winslow Capital has structured compensation plans for portfolio managers and other key personnel that it believes are competitive with other investment management firms. The compensation plan is determined by the Winslow Capital Operating Committee and is designed to align manager compensation with investors’ goals by rewarding portfolio managers who meet the long-term objective of consistent, superior investment results, measured by the performance of the product. The portfolio managers have long-term employment agreements and are subject to non-competition/non-solicitation restrictions.

The Operating Committee establishes salaries at competitive levels, verified through industry surveys, to attract and maintain the best professional and administrative personnel. Portfolio manager compensation packages are independent of advisory fees collected on any given client account under management. In addition, an incentive bonus is paid annually to the employees based upon each individual’s performance, client results and the profitability of the firm. Finally, employees of Winslow Capital, including portfolio managers, have received profit interests in the firm which entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.

 

(50) Palisade: Palisade’s investment professionals each receive a fixed base salary based on his or her experience and responsibilities, as well as revenue sharing. The revenue sharing arrangement rewards investment professionals based on the results of their individual contributions to the portfolio. A percentage of the revenue from the accounts managed, including the Fund, is allocated to the portfolio management team. This amount is then adjusted based on the 1- and 3-year performance of the small/smid growth equity strategy’s investment returns relative to both the applicable benchmark and the peer group. Compensation is also based, in part, on the growth of the assets in the product. The resulting amount is subsequently allocated to team members based on individual performance. Palisade believes this factor helps align the interests of the investment teams and the Fund’s shareholders and promotes long-term performance goals. Management has the ability to increase the amount of incentive compensation paid at its own discretion.

In 2013, Palisade initiated a Unit Appreciation Right (UAR) Plan, whereby key employees of Palisade, including the portfolio managers, participate in the UAR Plan. This plan provides an opportunity for each participating employee to share in the appreciation of Palisade’s equity value over time, similar to a stock option plan in a publicly traded company.

 

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All employees are eligible for Palisade’s 401(k) plan. Employees and partners are eligible for Palisade’s group life, health and disability insurance programs.

 

(51) TLC: Investment professionals are evaluated on specific responsibilities that include investment recommendations, quality of research, client retention, and overall contribution to the firm. Annual reviews are given and above average compensation increases plus bonuses are targeted with firm growth and individual performance. In addition, The London Company has a formal plan to offer ownership to key employees after they have been with the firm for 3-5 years.

 

(52) WellsCap: The compensation structure for Wells Capital Management’s portfolio managers includes a competitive fixed base salary plus variable incentives (Wells Capital Management utilizes investment management compensation surveys as confirmation). Incentive bonuses are typically tied to relative investment performance of all accounts under his or her management within acceptable risk parameters. Relative investment performance is generally evaluated for 1, 3, and 5 year performance results, with a predominant weighting on the 3- and 5- year time periods, versus the relevant benchmarks and/or peer groups consistent with the investment style. This evaluation takes into account relative performance of the accounts to each account’s individual benchmark and/or the relative composite performance of all accounts to one or more relevant benchmarks consistent with the overall investment style. Research analysts are evaluated on the overall team’s relative investment performance as well as the performance and quality of their individual research.

 

(53) BHMS:  In addition to base salary, all portfolio managers and analysts at BHMS share in a bonus pool that is distributed semiannually. Portfolio managers and analysts are rated on their value added to the team-oriented investment process. Overall compensation applies with respect to all accounts managed and compensation does not differ with respect to distinct accounts managed by a portfolio manager. Compensation is not tied to a published or private benchmark. It is important to understand that contributions to the overall investment process may include not recommending securities in an analyst’s sector if there are no compelling opportunities in the industries covered by that analyst.

The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly tied to fund performance or growth in assets for any fund or other account managed by a portfolio manager and portfolio managers are not compensated for bringing in new business. Of course, growth in assets from the appreciation of existing assets and/or growth in new assets will increase revenues and profit. The consistent, long-term growth in assets at any investment firm is to a great extent, dependent upon the success of the portfolio management team. The compensation of the portfolio management team at BHMS will increase over time, if and when assets continue to grow through competitive performance. Lastly, many of our key investment personnel have a longer-term incentive compensation plan in the form of an equity interest in Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC.

 

(54) Denver:  Denver Investments is a limited liability company with “members” or “partners” as the owners of the firm.

Denver Investments strives to put the interests of clients first at all times and to create an environment that promotes stability. To that end, the firm offers a competitive compensation structure designed to align its interests with those of its clients. All investment professionals are eligible for equity ownership positions, which are based on several factors including performance, product profitability, ability to grow the business and other qualitative factors.

Senior professionals have a base salary plus an incentive component, as well as equity ownership in the firm. All investment professionals who are non-owners have a base salary, an incentive component and participate in a profit-sharing program.

Regarding incentive compensation, the single most important measurement is client account returns versus their benchmark. If excess returns are achieved, investment professionals are eligible for annual bonuses which emphasize long-term performance.

Portfolio managers may also participate in Denver Investments’ defined contribution retirement plan, which includes normal matching provisions and a discretionary contribution in accordance with applicable tax regulations.

 

(55) Donald Smith:  All employees at Donald Smith & Co., Inc. are compensated on incentive plans. The compensation for portfolio managers, analysts and traders at Donald Smith consists of a base salary, a partnership interest in the firm’s profits, and possibly an additional, discretionary bonus. This discretionary bonus can exceed 100% of the base salary if performance for clients exceeds established benchmarks. The current benchmark utilized is the Russell 2000 Value Index. Additional distribution of firm ownership is a strong motivation for continued employment at Donald Smith & Co., Inc. Administrative personnel are also given a bonus as a function of their contribution and the profitability of the firm.

 

(56)

Turner: Turner’s compensation program is designed to promote excellence, accountability and teamwork. Portfolio managers are compensated for superior investment results, not the level of assets in a strategy. A portion of investment professional bonus compensation is linked to a subjective teamwork and peer assessment. Merit bonuses are capped at a

 

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  multiple of base salary, and performance targets are set and measured over multiple time periods to discourage undue risk in execution. Base salary, as well as the potential range of earnings for an individual, is benchmarked to the industry and to the individual’s level of experience. Nearly all investment professionals are principals of the firm and, as such, have a long-term vested interest in the success of all of our investment strategies. We believe that the opportunity for each employee to become an equity owner is a key factor in promoting accountability and in attracting and retaining top-tier professionals within all areas of our firm. The firm distributes equity to those professionals who have made significant contributions to the success of the business.

 

(57) RiverRoad: Compensation for portfolio managers includes an annual fixed base salary and a potential performance-based bonus. For portfolio managers with longer-term employment agreements (contractual arrangements), a portion of bonus compensation has been contractually determined at a fixed percentage of their base salary. R. Andrew Beck and James C. Shircliff are contractual portfolio managers.

 

(58)

Pyramis : Cesar Hernandez is the portfolio manager of the Pyramis ® International Equity Fund and receives compensation for his services. As of December 31, 2013, portfolio manager compensation generally consists of a fixed base salary determined periodically (typically annually), a bonus, in certain cases, participation in several types of equity-based compensation plans, and, if applicable, relocation plan benefits. A portion of the portfolio manager’s compensation may be deferred based on criteria established by Pyramis or at the election of the portfolio manager.

The portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by level of responsibility and tenure at Pyramis, FMR (Pyramis’ ultimate parent company) or its affiliates. The primary components of the portfolio manager’s bonus are based on (i) the pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) measured against a benchmark index and within a defined peer group assigned to each fund or account, if applicable and (ii) the investment performance of other Pyramis equity accounts. The pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) is weighted according to his tenure on those fund(s) and account(s) and the average asset size of those fund(s) and account(s) over his tenure. Each component is calculated separately over the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s) and account(s) over a measurement period that initially is contemporaneous with his tenure, but that eventually encompasses rolling periods of up to five years for the comparison to a benchmark index and peer group, if applicable. A smaller, subjective component of the portfolio manager’s bonus is based on the portfolio manager’s overall contribution to and leadership within the Pyramis investment platform. The portion of the portfolio manager’s bonus that is linked to the investment performance of the strategy is based on the pre-tax investment performance of the strategy measured against the MSCI EAFE Index (net tax). The portfolio manager also is compensated under equity-based compensation plans linked to increases or decreases in the net asset value of the stock of Pyramis Global Advisors Holdings Corp, the direct parent company of Pyramis. If requested to relocate their primary residence, portfolio managers also may be eligible to receive benefits, such as home sale assistance and payment of certain moving expenses, under relocation plans for most full-time employees of Pyramis and its affiliates.

 

(59) Columbia Management: Portfolio manager compensation is typically comprised of (i) a base salary and (ii) an annual cash bonus. The annual cash bonus, and in some instances the base salary, are paid from a team bonus pool that is based on fees and performance of the accounts managed by the portfolio management team, which might include mutual funds, wrap accounts, institutional portfolios and hedge funds.

The percentage of management fees on mutual funds and long-only institutional portfolios that fund the bonus pool is based on the short term (typically one-year) and long-term (typically three-year and five-year) performance of those accounts in relation to the relevant peer group universe.

A fixed percentage of management fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate fund the bonus pool.

The percentage of performance fees on hedge funds and separately managed accounts that follow a hedge fund mandate that fund the bonus pool is based on the absolute level of each hedge fund’s current year investment return,

For all employees the benefit programs generally are the same, and are competitive within the Financial Services Industry. Employees participate in a wide variety of plans, including options in Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k), and a cash balance pension plan.

 

(60)

Sit Investment: The portfolio managers receive compensation from Sit Investment. The compensation of the portfolio managers is comprised of a fixed base salary, an annual bonus, and periodic deferred compensation bonuses which may include stock plans. Portfolio managers also participate in the profit sharing 401(k) plan of Sit Investment. Competitive pay in the marketplace is considered in determining total compensation. The bonus awards are based on the attainment of personal and company goals which are comprised of a number of factors, including: the annual composite investment

 

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  performance of Sit Investment’s accounts (which may include the Fund) relative to the investment accounts’ benchmark index (including the primary benchmark the Fund included in the composite, if any); Sit Investment’s growth in assets under management from new assets (which may include assets of the Fund); profitability of Sit Investment; and the quality of investment research efforts. Contributions made to Sit Investment’s profit sharing 401(k) plan are subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations.

 

(61) TCW: TCW’s ability to attract and retain high-quality investment professionals can be attributed to a compensation philosophy implemented via an incentive-based structure that aligns employee performance and contributions with client and shareholder objectives. Most importantly, key personnel are equity holders and a significant objective of our management is to expand the number of employee stockholders.

Portfolio managers are compensated with a base salary and performance-based compensation calculated, in general, as a fixed percentage of revenues earned by the product group. This serves to align their interests with achieving returns for clients and ties their compensation directly to their performance. Senior Investment professionals (analysts, traders) are compensated through base salary as well as a bonus based on performance and/or a percentage of revenues earned by the product group. Individuals are evaluated upon: (1) individual performance, (2) contributions to the efforts of the product group, and (3) the success of the Firm.

Contributions to the collective efforts of the product group are critical as the management of client portfolios is conducted on a team basis to capture the best ideas in the process of constructing portfolios. The firm’s success signals that stakeholder objectives in the aggregate are being achieved, with equity ownership a desirable means to provide and receive compensation.

As mentioned, to foster continuity, highly-valued investment professionals are enfranchised as stakeholders with ownership via equity distribution and incremental vesting. In February of 2010, TCW acquired MetWest, in which a part of the purchase price was paid for with shares of common stock of TCW. In association with the acquisition of MetWest, a retention plan was implemented for former MetWest employees that provided for the issuance of additional shares of TCW common stock. Since MetWest is a subsidiary of The TWC Group, MetWest’s investment professionals are compensated under the TCW compensation structure.

Also in 2010, TCW approved a Restricted Stock Unit Plan for TCW employees, under which approximately 150 TCW employees have received restricted stock units that vest as shares of TCW common stock over a five-year period. Combining the stock issuable under the Restricted Stock Unit Plan and the stock issuable in the MetWest purchase transaction and related retention arrangements, employee-owners will own up to 19% of TCW (on a fully dilutive basis). With the completion of the Carlyle Transaction, it is now estimated that employee-owners own approximately 40% of TCW (on a fully diluted basis).

Additionally, key members of the team have long term employment contracts that incorporate compensation incentives with associated employment and performance requirements.

To assess the competitiveness of TCW’s compensation practices, the Firm conducts annual salary surveys to review benchmark and compensation ranges, both on a national and a regional basis. According to McLagan Partners, a leading compensation consultant in the industry, these studies have shown that the Firm is, on average, above the median in terms of salaries and total compensation provided to its employees.

 

(62) Victory Capital: The portfolio managers for the Fund receive a base salary plus an annual incentive bonus for managing the Fund, other investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts (including any other accounts for which the Adviser receives a performance fee). The firm states that a manager’s base salary is dependent on the manager’s level of experience and expertise and that Victory monitors each manager’s base salary relative to salaries paid for similar positions with peer firms by reviewing data provided by various consultants that specialize in competitive salary information.

A portfolio manager’s annual incentive bonus is based on the strategy’s investment performance results. Victory establishes a “target” incentive for each portfolio manager based on the manager’s level of experience and expertise in the manager’s investment style. This target is set at a percentage of base salary, generally ranging from 40% to 150%. Individual performance is based on objectives established annually during the first quarter of the fiscal year and are utilized to determine incentive award allocation within the team. Individual performance metrics include portfolio structure and positioning, research, stock selection, asset growth, client retention, presentation skills, marketing to prospective clients and contribution to Victory’s philosophy and values, such as leadership, risk management and teamwork. Investment performance is based on investment performance of each portfolio manager’s portfolio or Fund relative to a selected peer group(s), and is assigned a 50% - 100% weighting. The overall performance results of each Fund and all similarly-managed investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts are compared to

 

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the performance information of a peer group of similarly-managed competitors, as supplied by third party analytical agencies. The manager’s performance versus the peer group then determines the final incentive amount, which generally ranges from zero to 150% of the “target,” depending on results. For example, performance in an upper decile may result in an incentive bonus that is 150% of the “target” while below-average performance may result in an incentive bonus as low as zero. Performance results for a manager are based on the composite performance of all accounts managed by that manager on a combination of one, three and five year rolling performance.

In addition to the compensation described above, each of the Fund’s portfolio managers may earn additional incentive compensation based on a percentage of the revenue to Victory attributable to fees paid by all investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts that employ strategies similar to those employed by the Fund.

The Fund’s portfolio managers may participate in the equity ownership plan relating to Victory’s parent company, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (“VCH”). There is an ongoing annual equity pool granted to certain employees based on their contribution to the firm. Eligibility for participation in these incentive programs depends on the manager’s performance and seniority.

 

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The Administrator

For funds other than VP – Core Equity

Each fund, except for VP – Core Equity (which is closed to new investors), has an Administrative Services Agreement with Columbia Management. Under this agreement, the fund pays Columbia Management for providing administration and accounting services. The fees are calculated as follows:

Administrative Services Agreement Fee Schedule

 

    Asset Levels and Breakpoints in Applicable Fees  
Fund   $0 – 500,000,000    

$500,000,001 –

1,000,000,000

   

$1,000,000,001 –

3,000,000,000

   

$3,000,000,001 –

12,000,000,000

    $12,000,000,001 +  

VP –Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

    0.080     0.075     0.070     0.060     0.050

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

         

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

         

VP – DFA International Value Fund

         

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

         

VP – Global Bond Fund

         

VP – International Opportunity Fund

         

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

         

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

         

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

         

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

         

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

         

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

         

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

         

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

         

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

                                       

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

    0.070     0.065     0.060     0.050     0.040

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

         

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

         

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

         

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

         

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

         

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

         

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

         

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

         

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

         

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

         

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

                                       

 

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     Asset Levels and Breakpoints in Applicable Fees  
Fund    $0 – 500,000,000    

$500,000,001 –

1,000,000,000

   

$1,000,000,001 –

3,000,000,000

   

$3,000,000,001 –

12,000,000,000

    $12,000,000,001 +  

VP – Balanced Fund

     0.060     0.055     0.050     0.040     0.030

VP – Cash Management Fund

          

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

          

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

          

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

          

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

          

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

          

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

          

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund (a)

          

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

          

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

          

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

          

VP – MFS Value Fund

          

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

          

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

          

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

          

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

          

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

          

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

          

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

                                        

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

     0.020     0.020     0.020     0.020     0.020

VP – Conservative Portfolio

          

VP – Moderate Portfolio

          

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

          

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

                                        

VP – S&P 500 Fund

     0.100     0.100     0.100     0.100     0.100

 

(a) The Investment Manager has implemented a schedule for the administrative services fees for the VP – Managed Volatility Funds, whereby the Fund pays (i) 0.020% administrative services fee on its assets that are invested in affiliated underlying mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds that pay an investment management fee to the Administrator or its affiliate; and (ii) an administrative services fee rate according to the above schedule on securities, instruments and other assets not described in category (i) above, including without limitation affiliated mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds that do not pay an investment management fee to the Administrator or its affiliates, third party funds, derivatives and individual securities.

Prior to Jan. 1, 2011, the funds’ Administrative Services Agreement was with Ameriprise Financial. The fee is calculated for each calendar day on the basis of net assets as of the close of the preceding day. Fees paid in each of the last three fiscal periods are shown in the table below. The table also shows the fee rate applied to each fund’s net assets as of the most recent fiscal period.

Administrative Fees

 

       Administrative Services Fees Paid In  
Fund    2013     2012      2011  

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

   $ 702,649      $ 648,041       $ 623,300   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

     1,904,746        1,660,908         1,381,128   

VP – Balanced Fund

     518,344        501,271         524,729   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

     1,621,041        1,839,264         1,714,364   

VP – Cash Management Fund

     434,427        472,187         474,637   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

     522,650        462,243         411,378   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

     583,257        559,079         528,745   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

     54,660 (a)       N/A         N/A   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

     590,763        617,901         450,466   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

     1,006,592        1,105,943         984,027   

 

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       Administrative Services Fees Paid In  
Fund    2013      2012     2011  

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

   $ 2,102,104       $ 2,400,800      $ 2,370,290   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

     1,675,236         1,587,676        1,604,081   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

     543,500         598,310        595,804   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

     743,599         727,124        754,414   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

     269,812         179,243 (b)       N/A   

VP – Global Bond Fund

     964,204         1,223,104        1,241,636   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

     427,658         432,292        444,508   

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

     805,923         956,939        904,776   

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

     764,212         781,169        782,982   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

     326,165         319,803        389,959   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

     1,427,580         1,418,677        1,291,209   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

     1,867,915         1,584,678        1,247,473   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

     603,697         578,829        516,889   

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

     615,650         153,880        152,758   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

     858,373         710,399        731,312   

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

     1,777,095         1,706,806        1,614,379   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

     711,334         965,320        922,297   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

     1,209,118         136,861 (c)       N/A   

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

     89,495         294,081        339,269   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

     46,277         157,454        182,988   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

     202,549         696,669        797,823   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

     130,109         339,519        421,769   

VP – MFS Value Fund

     1,118,507         994,834        898,364   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

     320,162         253,602        218,164   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

     466,303         558,178        515,201   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

     4,572,608         4,239,238        3,749,700   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

     2,657,921         2,526,177        2,424,234   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

     1,254,310         1,244,868        999,779   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

     325,230         278,592        247,712   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

     327,617         355,908        312,324   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

     1,054,773         996,844        901,286   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

     745,808         963,160        878,184   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

     449,675         412,832        398,379   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

     1,267,399         1,173,680        1,089,894   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

     959,516         887,414        823,537   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

     240,079         213,053        186,435   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

     397,907         212,115        22,216   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     135,151         118,225        118,010   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

     78,967         73,655        51,188   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

     682,193         651,410        733,601   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

     919,418         911,722        786,052   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

     1,188,420         861,270        798,185   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

     606,126         545,759        518,597   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

     1,482,535         1,267,372        1,101,467   

 

(a) For the period from April 30, 2013 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2013.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.
(c) For the period from April 19, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.

 

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The Distributor

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (the “distributor”), 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Management, is the funds’ principal underwriter and distributor. Each fund’s shares are offered on a continuous basis.

Distribution and Servicing Plans

For funds other than VP – Core Equity Fund

To help defray the cost of distribution and servicing, each fund, other than VP – Core Equity Fund (which is closed to new investors), approved a Plan of Distribution (the “Plan”) and entered into an agreement under the Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with the distributor. The Plan is a reimbursement plan whereby the fund pays a fee up to actual expenses incurred at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the fund’s average daily net assets on Class 2 and Class 4 shares and 0.125% on Class 3 shares. These fees are not applicable to Class 1 shares.

The distribution and/or shareholder service fees are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and are to reimburse the distributor for certain expenses it incurs in connection with distributing the fund’s shares and directly or indirectly providing services to fund shareholders. These payments or expenses include providing distribution and/or shareholder service fees to selling and/or servicing agents that sell shares of the fund or provide services to fund shareholders. The distributor may retain these fees otherwise payable to selling and/or servicing agents if the amounts due are below an amount determined by the distributor in its discretion.

Over time, these distribution and/or shareholder service fees will reduce the return on your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The fund will pay these fees to the distributor and/or to eligible selling and/or servicing agents for as long as the distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans continue in effect. The fund may reduce or discontinue payments at any time. Your selling and/or servicing agent may also charge you other additional fees for providing services to your account, which may be different from those described here.

For its most recent fiscal period, each fund, other than VP – Core Equity Fund, paid 12b-1 fees as shown in the following table.

12b-1 Fees

 

Fund    Class 2     Class 3      Class 4  
VP – Aggressive Portfolio      $2,964,050        N/A       $ 5,819,772   
VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund      16,031        N/A         N/A   
VP – Balanced Fund      N/A      $ 1,121,282         N/A   
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund      22,471        320,311         N/A   
VP – Cash Management Fund      39,236        514,174         N/A   
VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund      25,847        N/A         N/A   
VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund      21,027        N/A         N/A   
VP – Commodity Strategy Fund      615 (a)       N/A         N/A   
VP – Conservative Portfolio      2,446,732        N/A         4,938,403   
VP – DFA International Value Fund      8,292        N/A         N/A   
VP – Diversified Bond Fund      71,521        1,577,496         N/A   
VP – Dividend Opportinity Fund      66,885        1,522,471         N/A   
VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund      52,645        N/A         N/A   
VP – Emerging Markets Fund      28,786        424,936         N/A   
VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund      3,649        N/A         N/A   
VP – Global Bond Fund      25,344        448,849         N/A   
VP – High Yield Bond Fund      53,242        747,728         N/A   
VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund      10,488        N/A         N/A   
VP – Income Opportunities Fund      67,459        302,593         N/A   
VP – International Opportunity Fund      13,071        482,371         N/A   
VP – Invesco International Growth Fund      11,224        N/A         N/A   
VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund      14,195        N/A         N/A   
VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund      9,105        N/A         N/A   
VP – Large Cap Growth Fund      28,759        262,671         N/A   

 

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Fund    Class 2      Class 3      Class 4  
VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund    $ 5,785       $ 1,636,100         N/A   
VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund      20,614         N/A         N/A   
VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund      5,489         N/A         N/A   
VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund      9,749,604         N/A         N/A   
VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund      300,804         N/A         N/A   
VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund      33         N/A         N/A   
VP – Marsico Growth Fund      84,113         N/A         N/A   
VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund      366,854         N/A         N/A   
VP – MFS Value Fund      11,901         N/A         N/A   
VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund      15,129         360,255         N/A   
VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund      12,069         133,277         N/A   
VP – Moderate Portfolio      19,195,233         N/A       $ 37,966,956   
VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio      11,358,135         N/A         21,868,552   
VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio      5,430,123         N/A         10,250,015   
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund      19         N/A         N/A   
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund      23,377         N/A         N/A   
VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund      13,286         N/A         N/A   
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund      4,487         N/A         N/A   
VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund      4,817         N/A         N/A   
VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund      6,410         260,272         N/A   
VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund      4,905         N/A         N/A   
VP – S&P 500 Index Fund      39,658         280,253         N/A   
VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund      8,166         55,920         N/A   
VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund      43,887         97,707         N/A   
VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund      184,826         N/A         N/A   
VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund      8,069         71,857         N/A   
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund      9,215         N/A         N/A   
VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund      73,674         318,710         N/A   
VP – Victory Established Value Fund      13,431         24,043         N/A   
VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund      5,498         N/A         N/A   

 

(a) For the period from April 30, 2013 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2013.

Other Services Provided

The Transfer Agent

For funds other than VP – Core Equity Fund

Each fund, other than VP – Core Equity Fund (which is closed to new investors), has a Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement with Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (the “transfer agent”) located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. This agreement governs the transfer agent’s responsibility for administering and/or performing transfer agent functions and for acting as service agent in connection with dividend and distribution functions in connection with the sale and redemption of the fund’s shares. Under the agreement, the transfer agent will earn a fee equal to 0.06% of the average daily net assets of the fund with the exception of VP – Aggressive Portfolio, VP – Conservative Portfolio, VP –Moderate Portfolio, VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio and VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio, which do not pay a direct fee for transfer agency services. VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund does not pay a direct fee for transfer agency services on the portion of assets invested in underlying funds that pay a fee for transfer agency services, however the transfer agent will earn a fee equal to 0.06% of the average daily net assets invested in securities (other than underlying mutual funds that pay a transfer agency fee), including other funds that don’t pay a fee for transfer agency services, ETFs, derivatives and individual securities. The transfer agent may hire third parties to perform services under this agreement. The fees paid to the transfer agent may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

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The Custodian

The fund’s securities and cash are held pursuant to a custodian agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMorgan), 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005. The custodian is permitted to deposit some or all of its securities in central depository systems as allowed by federal law. For its services, each fund pays the custodian a maintenance charge and a charge per transaction in addition to reimbursing the custodian’s out-of-pocket expenses.

As part of this arrangement, securities purchased outside the United States are maintained in the custody of various foreign branches of JPMorgan or in other financial institutions as permitted by law and by the fund’s custodian agreement.

Pricing and Bookkeeping Services (with respect to CFVITI Series Only)

Prior to 2011, State Street provided certain pricing and bookkeeping services to the Funds. The Administrator was responsible for overseeing the performance of these services and for certain other services. Effective during 2011, these services began to be provided under the Administrative Services Agreement.

Services Provided

Effective December 15, 2006, CVFITI entered into a Financial Reporting Services Agreement with State Street and the Previous Adviser (the Financial Reporting Services Agreement) pursuant to which State Street provided financial reporting services to the Funds. Also effective December 15, 2006, CFVITI entered into an Accounting Services Agreement with State Street and the Previous Adviser (collectively with the Financial Reporting Services Agreement, the State Street Agreements) pursuant to which State Street provided accounting services to the Funds. Effective May 1, 2010, the State Street Agreements were amended to, among other things, assign and delegate the Previous Adviser’s rights and obligations under the State Street Agreements to the Administrator. Under the State Street Agreements, each Fund paid State Street an annual fee of $38,000 paid monthly plus an additional monthly fee based on an annualized percentage rate of average daily net assets of the Fund for the month. The aggregate fee for a Fund during any year did not exceed $140,000 annually (exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses and charges). Each Fund also reimbursed State Street for certain out-of-pocket expenses and charges. The State Street Agreements were terminated on August 8, 2011.

From December 15, 2006 through May 1, 2010, CFVITI was party to a Pricing and Bookkeeping Oversight and Services Agreement (the Services Agreement) with the Previous Adviser. Under the Services Agreement, the Previous Adviser provided services related to Fund expenses and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and provided oversight of the accounting and financial reporting services provided by State Street. Under the Services Agreement, each Fund reimbursed the Previous Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses and charges, including fees payable to third parties, such as for pricing the Funds’ portfolio securities, incurred by the Previous Adviser in the performance of services under the Services Agreement. Prior to January 1, 2008, the Funds also reimbursed the Previous Adviser for accounting oversight services and services related to Fund expenses and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Effective May 1, 2010, the services previously provided by the Previous Adviser under the Services Agreement began to be provided by the Administrator under the Administrative Services Agreement, and the Services Agreement was terminated.

Pricing and Bookkeeping Fees Paid by the Funds

State Street received fees from the Funds for their services as reflected in the following table, which shows the net pricing and bookkeeping fees paid to State Street for the three most recently completed fiscal years.

 

      Amount Paid to State Street  
Fund   2013     2012     2011  

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,272   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,950   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,173   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 2,168   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 or later contained in each funds’ Annual Report were audited by the independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 225 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402. The financial statements for periods ended on or before December 31, 2011 were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, for Seligman Global Technology, the financial statements for the periods ended on or before December 31, 2008 were audited by other auditors. The independent registered public accounting firm also provides other accounting and tax-related services as requested by the funds.

 

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Counsel

Goodwin Procter LLP serves as legal counsel to the Trusts. Its address is 901 New York Avenue N.W., Washington, DC, 20001. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Trusts. Its address is 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.

Board Services Corporation

The funds have an agreement with Board Services Corporation (Board Services) located at 901 South, Marquette Avenue, Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402. This agreement sets forth the terms of Board Services’ responsibility to serve as an agent of the funds for purposes of administering the payment of compensation to each Independent Trustees, to provide office space for use by the funds and their Board, and to provide any other services to the Board or the Independent Trustees, as may be reasonably requested.

Expense Limitations

The Investment Manager and certain of its affiliates have agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse certain expenses (excluding certain fees and expenses, such as transaction costs and certain other investment related expenses, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (for Funds other than VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund), and extraordinary expenses) so that certain Funds’ net operating expenses, after giving effect to fees waived/expenses reimbursed and any balance credits and/or overdraft charges from the Fund’s custodian, do not exceed specified rates for specified time periods, as described in a Fund’s prospectus.

The tables below show the expenses reimbursed and fees waived by Investment Manager and its affiliates for the last three fiscal periods. The table is organized by fiscal year end.

Expenses Reimbursed

 

      Amounts Reimbursed  
Fund   2013     2012     2011  

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

    N/A      $ 795,033      $ 1,903,315   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

    N/A        N/A        354,381   

VP – Balanced Fund

  $ 376,197        1,051,707        607,750   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Cash Management Fund

    3,365,897        3,351,515        3,289,372   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

    779,329        630,326        401,101   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

    309,791        306,945        195,561   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund (a)

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

    N/A        157,538        374,571   

VP – Core Equity Fund

    85,961        103,162        103,235   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

    1,478,653        1,136,599        894,205   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

    576,585        565,068        908,713   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

    N/A        N/A (b)       N/A   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

    428,726        186,179        N/A   

VP – Global Bond Fund

    77,332        N/A        N/A   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

    253,214        112,594        N/A   

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

    N/A        193,375        766,744   

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

    129,846        41,727        21,501   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

    9,466        N/A        N/A   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

    N/A        247,669        715,055   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

    N/A        N/A        349,842   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

    493,927        489,083        455,357   

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

    224,078        247,319        211,239   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

    50        331,372        640,542   

 

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      Amounts Reimbursed  
Fund   2013     2012     2011  

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  $ 806,036      $ 1,471,024      $ 1,227,380   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

    N/A        319,760        870,940   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

    274,035        168,807 (c)       N/A   

VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund

    111,120        241,268        130,682   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

    132,296        163,025        129,189   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

    291,138        735,945        482,295   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

    161,626        223,966        111,232   

VP – MFS Value Fund

    N/A        199,307        1,062,145   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

    152,568        137,867        N/A   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

    54,744        N/A        N/A   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

    N/A        2,976,656        7,071,126   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

    N/A        1,799,510        4,501,818   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

    N/A        593,184        1,359,903   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

    403,763        242,865        N/A   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

    595,238        634,309        524,304   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

    N/A        N/A        645,661   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

    N/A        70,799        416,052   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

    373,085        207,452        N/A   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

    2,789,137        1,771,593        434,038   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

    31,702        267,805        628,836   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

    443,428        176,613        42,853   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

    99,478        102,168        35,460   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

    230,994        195,578        228,985   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

    796,122        670,972        518,078   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

    N/A        296,888        814,145   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

    N/A        N/A        N/A   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

    131,556        237,964        N/A   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

    N/A        123,444        514,516   

 

(a) For the period from April 30, 2013 (when the Fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2013.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2012 (when the Fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.
(c) For the period from April 19, 2012 (when the Fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.

Fees Waived

If a Fund is not shown, there were no fees waived for the relevant fiscal periods.

 

      Amounts Waived  
Fund   2013     2012     2011  

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  $ 185,930        N/A        N/A   

Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and Its Affiliates – Certain Conflicts of Interest

As described above in the Investment Management and Other Services section of this SAI, and in the More Information About the Fund – Primary Service Providers section of each Fund’s prospectus, the Investment Manager, Administrator, Distributor and Transfer Agent, all affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, receive compensation from the Funds for the various services they provide to the Funds. Additional information as to the specific terms regarding such compensation is set forth in these affiliated service providers’ contracts with the Funds, each of which typically is included as an exhibit to Part C of each Fund’s registration statement.

 

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In many instances, the compensation paid to the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates for the services they provide to the Funds is based, in some manner, on the size of the Funds’ assets under management. As the size of the Funds’ assets under management grows, so does the amount of compensation paid to the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates for providing services to the Funds. This relationship between Fund assets and affiliated service provider compensation may create economic and other conflicts of interests of which Fund investors should be aware.

These potential conflicts of interest, as well as additional ones, are discussed in detail below and also are addressed in other disclosure materials, including the Funds’ prospectuses. These conflicts of interest also are highlighted in account documentation and other disclosure materials of Ameriprise Financial affiliates that make available or offer the Columbia Funds as investments in connection with their respective products and services. In addition, Part 1A of the Investment Manager’s Form ADV, which it must file with the SEC as an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, provides information about the Investment Manager’s business, assets under management, affiliates and potential conflicts of interest. Part 1A of the Investment Manager’s Form ADV is available online through the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

The Board monitors events to identify any material conflicts that may arise between the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies or between the interests of owners of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies, or participants in Qualified Plans. The Trust currently does not foresee any disadvantages to the owners of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies or participants in Qualified Plans arising from the fact that certain interests of owners may differ.

Additional actual or potential conflicts of interest and certain investment activity limitations that could affect the Funds may arise from the financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including, for example, the investment advisory/management services provided for clients and customers other than the Funds. In this regard, Ameriprise Financial is a major financial services company. Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates are engaged in a wide range of financial activities beyond the mutual fund-related activities of the Investment Manager, including, among others, broker-dealer (sales and trading), asset management, insurance and other financial activities. The broad range of financial services activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may involve multiple advisory, transactional, lending, financial and other interests in securities and other instruments, and in companies, that may be bought, sold or held by the Funds. The following describes certain actual and potential conflicts of interest that may be presented.

Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to the Investment Advisory/Management Activities of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates in Connection With Other Advised/Managed Funds and Accounts

The Investment Manager and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may advise or manage funds and accounts other than the Funds. In this regard, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may provide investment advisory/management and other services to other advised/managed funds and accounts that are similar to those provided to the Funds. The Investment Manager and Ameriprise Financial’s other investment adviser affiliates (including, for example, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC) will give advice to and make decisions for all advised/managed funds and accounts, including the Funds, as they believe to be in that fund’s and/or account’s best interests, consistent with their fiduciary duties. The Funds and the other advised/managed funds and accounts of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates are separately and potentially divergently managed, and there is no assurance that any investment advice Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates give to other advised/managed funds and accounts will also be given simultaneously or otherwise to the Funds.

A variety of other actual and potential conflicts of interest may arise from the advisory relationships of the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates with other clients and customers. Advice given to the Funds and/or investment decisions made for the Funds by the Investment Manager or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may differ from, or may conflict with, advice given to and/or investment decisions made for other advised/managed funds and accounts. As a result, the performance of the Funds may differ from the performance of other funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates. Similarly, a position taken by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, on behalf of other funds or accounts may be contrary to a position taken on behalf of the Funds. Moreover, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, may take a position on behalf of other advised/managed funds and accounts, or for their own proprietary accounts, that is adverse to companies or other issuers in which the Funds are invested. For example, the Funds may hold equity securities of a company while another advised/managed fund or account may hold debt securities of the same company. If the portfolio company were to experience financial difficulties, it might be in the best interest of the Funds for the company to reorganize while the interests of the other advised/managed fund or account might be better served by the liquidation of the company. This type of conflict of interest could arise as the result of circumstances that cannot be generally foreseen within the broad range of investment advisory/management activities in which Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates engage.

Investment transactions made on behalf of other funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates also may have a negative effect on the value, price or investment strategies of the Funds. For

 

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example, this could occur if another advised/managed fund or account implements an investment decision ahead of, or at the same time as, the Funds and causes the Funds to experience less favorable trading results than they otherwise would have experienced based on market liquidity factors. In addition, the other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, including the other Columbia Funds, may have the same or very similar investment objective and strategies as the Funds. In this situation, the allocation of, and competition for, investment opportunities among the Funds and other funds and/or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager or other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may create conflicts of interest especially where, for example, limited investment availability is involved. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures addressing the allocation of investment opportunities among the Funds and other funds and accounts advised by the Investment Manager and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services — The Investment Manager and Subadvisers — Portfolio Managers — Potential Conflicts of Interests .

Sharing of Information among Advised/Managed Accounts

Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates also may possess information that could be material to the management of a Fund and may not be able to, or may determine not to, share that information with the Fund, even though the information might be beneficial to the Fund. This information may include actual knowledge regarding the particular investments and transactions of other advised/managed funds and accounts, as well as proprietary investment, trading and other market research, analytical and technical models, and new investment techniques, strategies and opportunities. Depending on the context, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates generally will have no obligation to share any such information with the Funds. In general, employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the portfolio managers of the Investment Manager, will make investment decisions without regard to information otherwise known by other employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and generally will have no obligation to access any such information and may, in some instances, not be able to access such information because of legal and regulatory constraints or the internal policies and procedures of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. For example, if the Investment Manager or another Ameriprise Financial affiliate, or their respective employees, come into possession of non-public information regarding another advised/managed fund or account, they may be prohibited by legal and regulatory constraints, or internal policies and procedures, from using that information in connection with transactions made on behalf of the Funds. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services — The Investment Manager and Subadvisers — Portfolio Managers — Potential Conflicts of Interests .

Soft Dollar Benefits

Certain products and services, commonly referred to as “soft dollar services” (including, to the extent permitted by law, research reports, economic and financial data, financial publications, proxy analysis, computer databases and other research-oriented materials), that the Investment Manager may receive in connection with brokerage services provided to a Fund may have the inadvertent effect of disproportionately benefiting other advised/managed funds or accounts. This could happen because of the relative amount of brokerage services provided to a Fund as compared to other advised/managed funds or accounts, as well as the relative compensation paid by a Fund.

Services Provided to Other Advised/Managed Accounts

Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates also may act as an investment adviser, investment manager, administrator, transfer agent, custodian, trustee, broker-dealer, agent, or in another capacity, for advised/managed funds and accounts other than the Funds, and may receive compensation for acting in such capacity. This compensation that the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates receive could be greater than the compensation Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates receive for acting in the same or similar capacity for the Funds. In addition, the Investment Manager, Distributor and Transfer Agent and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may receive other benefits, including enhancement of new or existing business relationships. This compensation and/or the benefits that Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may receive from other advised/managed funds and accounts and other relationships could potentially create incentives to favor other advised/managed funds and accounts over the Funds. Trades made by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates for the Funds may be, but are not required to be, aggregated with trades made for other funds and accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates. If trades are aggregated among the Funds and those other funds and accounts, the various prices of the securities being traded may be averaged, which could have the potential effect of disadvantaging the Funds as compared to the other funds and accounts with which trades were aggregated.

Proxy Voting

Although the Investment Manager endeavors to make all proxy voting decisions with respect to the interests of the Funds for which it is responsible in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures, the Investment Manager’s proxy voting decisions with respect to a Fund’s portfolio securities may or may not benefit other advised/managed funds and accounts, and/or clients, of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. The Investment Manager has adopted proxy voting policies and

 

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procedures that are designed to provide that all proxy voting is done in the best interests of its clients, including the Funds, without any resulting benefit or detriment to the Investment and/or its affiliates, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. For more information about the Funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures, see Investment Management and Other Services — Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.

Certain Trading Activities

The directors/trustees, officers and employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts, and in doing so may take a position that is adverse to the Funds. In order to reduce the possibility that such personal investment activities of the directors/trustees, officers and employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates will materially adversely affect the Funds, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have adopted policies and procedures, and the Funds, the Board, the Investment Manager and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics that addresses such personal investment activities. For more information, see Investment Management and Other Services — Codes of Ethics .

Affiliate Transactions

Subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, a Fund may enter into transactions in which Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates, or companies that are deemed to be affiliates of a Fund because of, among other factors, their or their affiliates’ ownership or control of shares of the Fund, may have an interest that potentially conflicts with the interests of the Fund. For example, an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial may sell securities to a Fund from an offering in which it is an underwriter or that it owns as a dealer, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Applicable legal and regulatory requirements also may prevent a Fund from engaging in transactions with an affiliate of the Fund, which may include Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, or from participating in an investment opportunity in which an affiliate of a Fund participates.

Certain Investment Limitations

Regulatory and other restrictions may limit a Fund’s investment activities in various ways. For example, certain securities may be subject to ownership limitations due to regulatory limits on investments in certain industries (such as, for example, banking and insurance) and markets (such as emerging or international markets),or certain transactions (such as those involving certain derivatives or other instruments) or mechanisms imposed by certain issuers (such as, among others, poison pills). Certain of these restrictions may impose limits on the aggregate amount of investments that may be made by affiliated investors in the aggregate or in individual issuers. In these circumstances, the Investment Manager may be prevented from acquiring securities for a Fund that it might otherwise prefer to acquire if the acquisition would cause the Fund and its affiliated investors to exceed an applicable limit. These types of regulatory and other applicable limits are complex and vary significantly in different contexts including, among others, from country to country, industry to industry and issuer to issuer. The Investment Manager has policies and procedures in place designed to monitor and interpret these limits. Nonetheless, given the complexity of these limits, the Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may inadvertently breach these limits, and a Fund may therefore be required to sell securities that it might otherwise prefer to hold in order to comply with such limits. In addition, aggregate ownership limitations could cause performance dispersion among funds and accounts managed by the Investment Manager with similar investment objectives and strategies and portfolio management teams. For example, if

further purchases in an issuer are restricted due to regulatory or other reasons, a portfolio manager would not be able to acquire securities or other assets of an issuer for a new Fund that may already be held by other funds and accounts with the same/similar investment objectives and strategies that are managed by the same portfolio management team. The Investment Manager may also choose to limit purchases in an issuer to a certain threshold for risk management purposes. If the holdings of the Investment Manager’s affiliates are included in that limitation, a Fund may be more limited in its ability to purchase a particular security or other asset than if the holdings of the Investment Manager’s affiliates had been excluded from the calculation. . At certain times, a Fund may be restricted in its investment activities because of relationships that an affiliate of the Fund, which may include Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, may have with the issuers of securities. This could happen, for example, if a Fund desired to buy a security issued by a company for which Ameriprise Financial or an affiliate serves as underwriter. In any of these scenarios, a Fund’s inability to participate (or participate further) in a particular investment, despite a portfolio manager’s desire to so participate, may negatively impact Fund performance. The internal policies and procedures of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates covering these types of restrictions and addressing similar issues also may at times restrict a Fund’s investment activities. See also About the Funds’ Investments — Certain Investment Activity Limits .

Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates’ Non-Advisory Relationships with Clients and Customers other than the Funds

The financial relationships that Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may have with companies and other entities in which a Fund may invest can give rise to actual and potential conflicts of interest. Subject to applicable legal and regulatory

 

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requirements, a Fund may invest (a) in the securities of Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates and/or in companies in which Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have an equity, debt or other interest, and/or (b) in the securities of companies held by other Columbia Funds. The purchase, holding and sale of such securities by a Fund may enhance the profitability and the business interests of Ameriprise Financial and/or its affiliates and/or other Columbia Funds. There also may be limitations as to the sharing with the Investment Manager of information derived from the non-investment advisory/management activities of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates because of legal and regulatory constraints and internal policies and procedures (such as information barriers and ethical walls). Because of these limitations, Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates generally will not share information derived from its non-investment advisory/management activities with the Investment Manager.

Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Ameriprise Financial Affiliates’ Marketing and Use of the Columbia Funds as Investment Options

Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates also provide a variety of products and services that, in some manner, may utilize the Columbia Funds as investment options. For example, the Columbia Funds may be offered as investments in connection with brokerage and other securities products offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, and may be utilized as investments in connection with fiduciary, investment management and other accounts offered by affiliates of Ameriprise Financial, as well as for other Columbia Funds structured as “funds of funds.” The use of the Columbia Funds in connection with other products and services offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates may introduce economic and other conflicts of interest. These conflicts of interest are highlighted in account documentation and other disclosure materials for the other products and services offered by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates.

Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager, may make payments to their affiliates in connection with the promotion and sale of the Funds’ shares, in addition to the sales-related and other compensation that these parties may receive from the Funds. As a general matter, personnel of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates do not receive compensation in connection with their sales or use of the Funds that is greater than that paid in connection with their sales of other comparable products and services. Nonetheless, because the compensation that the Investment Manager and other affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may receive for providing services to the Funds is generally based on the Funds’ assets under management and those assets will grow as shares of the Funds are sold, potential conflicts of interest may exist. See Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices — Additional Selling and/or Servicing Agent Payments for more information.

Code of Ethics

The funds, Columbia Management, unaffiliated and affiliated subadvisers, and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. have each adopted a Code of Ethics (collectively, the “Codes”) and related procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. The Codes contain provisions reasonably necessary to prevent a fund’s access persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by paragraph (b) of Rule 17j-1, which indicates that it is unlawful for any affiliated person of or principal underwriter for a fund, or any affiliated persons of an investment adviser of or principal underwriter for a fund, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by the person of a security held or to be acquired by a fund (i) to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a fund; (ii) to make any untrue statement of a material fact to a fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to a fund, in light of the circumstance under which they are made, not misleading; (iii) to engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on a fund; or (iv) to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a fund. The Codes prohibit personnel from engaging in personal investment activities that compete with or attempt to take advantage of planned portfolio transactions for the funds.

Copies of the Codes are on public file with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. The information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Copies of the Codes are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Codes may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

GENERAL GUIDELINES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The following description of the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, as well as the Proxy Voting Guidelines attached as Appendix C, apply to the funds listed on the cover page of this SAI, which are governed by the same Board of Trustees.

 

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The Funds uphold a long tradition of supporting sound and principled corporate governance. In furtherance thereof, the Funds’ Boards of Trustees (“Board”), which consist of a majority of independent Board members, determines policies and votes proxies. The Funds’ investment manager and administrator, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“Columbia Management”), provides support to the Board in connection with the proxy voting process.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

The Board supports proxy proposals that it believes are tied to the interests of shareholders and votes against proxy proposals that appear to entrench management. For example:

Election of Directors

   

The Board generally votes in favor of proposals for an independent chairman or, if the chairman is not independent, in favor of a lead independent director.

 

   

The Board supports annual election of all directors and proposals to eliminate classes of directors.

 

   

In a routine election of directors, the Board will generally vote with the recommendations of the company’s nominating committee because the Board believes that nominating committees of independent directors are in the best position to know what qualifications are required of directors to form an effective board. However, the Board will generally vote against a nominee who has been assigned to the audit, compensation, or nominating committee if the nominee is not independent of management based on established criteria. The Board will generally also withhold support for any director who fails to attend 75% of meetings or has other activities that appear to interfere with his or her ability to commit sufficient attention to the company and, in general, will vote against nominees who are determined to have exhibited poor governance such as involvement in options backdating, financial restatements or material weaknesses in control, approving egregious compensation or have consistently disregarded the interests of shareholders.

 

   

The Board generally supports proposals requiring director nominees to receive a majority of affirmative votes cast in order to be elected to the board, and in the absence of majority voting, generally will support cumulative voting.

 

   

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Defense Mechanisms

The Board generally supports proposals eliminating provisions requiring supermajority approval of certain actions. The Board generally supports proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes and proposals restricting a company’s ability to make greenmail payments. The Board reviews management proposals submitting shareholder rights plans (poison pills) to shareholders on a case-by-case basis.

Auditors

The Board values the independence of auditors based on established criteria. The Board supports a reasonable review of matters that may raise concerns regarding an auditor’s service that may cause the Board to vote against a company’s recommendation for auditor, including, for example, auditor involvement in significant financial restatements, options backdating, conflicts of interest, material weaknesses in control or situations where independence has been compromised.

Management Compensation Issues

The Board expects company management to give thoughtful consideration to providing competitive compensation and incentives, which are reflective of company performance, and are directly tied to the interest of shareholders. The Board generally votes for plans if they are reasonable and consistent with industry and country standards and against plans that it believes dilute shareholder value substantially.

The Board generally favors minimum holding periods of stock obtained by senior management pursuant to equity compensation plans and will vote against compensation plans for executives that it deems excessive.

Social and Corporate Policy Issues

The Board believes proxy proposals should address the business interests of the corporation. Shareholder proposals sometime seek to have the company disclose or amend certain business practices based purely on social or environmental issues rather than compelling business arguments. In general, the Board recognizes our Fund shareholders are likely to have differing views of social and environmental issues and believes that these matters are primarily the responsibility of a company’s management and its board of directors. The Board generally abstains or votes against these proposals.

Additional details can be found in the funds’ Proxy Voting Guidelines (see Appendix C).

 

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POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The policy of the Board is to vote all proxies of the companies in which a fund holds investments. Because of the volume and complexity of the proxy voting process, including inherent inefficiencies in the process that are outside the control of the Board or the Proxy Team (defined below), not all proxies may be voted. The Board has implemented policies and procedures that have been reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best economic interests of the funds’ shareholders, and to address any conflicts between interests of a fund’s shareholders and those of Columbia Management or other affiliated persons.

The Board votes proxies on behalf of the funds. Columbia Management provides support to the Board in connection with the proxy voting process, and has assigned responsibility to the Columbia Management Proxy Administration Team (“Proxy Team”) to administer proxies on behalf of the funds. In exercising its responsibilities, the Proxy Team may rely upon the research or recommendations of one or more third party research providers. The Proxy Team assists the Board in identifying situations where its voting guidelines do not clearly direct a vote in a particular manner and assists in researching matters and making voting recommendations. The Proxy Team may recommend that a proxy be voted in a manner contrary to the Board’s voting guidelines based on recommendations from Columbia Management investment personnel (or the investment personnel of a fund’s subadviser(s)), information obtained from independent research firms or other sources. The Proxy Team makes all recommendations in writing. Except for proposals where the recommendation from Columbia Management concurs with the recommendations from company management and the independent research firms, the Board Chair or other Board members who are independent from the investment manager will consider the recommendation and decide how to vote the proxy proposal or establish a protocol for voting the proposal. If Columbia Management, company management and the independent research firms recommend the same action on such proposals, Columbia Management is authorized to vote in accordance with the consensus recommendation.

On an annual basis, or more frequently as determined necessary, the Board reviews the voting guidelines to determine whether changes are appropriate. The Board may consider recommendations from Columbia Management to revise the existing guidelines or add new guidelines. Typically, changes to the voting guidelines are based on, among other things, industry trends and the frequency that similar proposals appear on company ballots.

The Board considers management’s recommendations as set out in the company’s proxy statement. In each instance in which a Fund votes against management’s recommendation (except when withholding votes from a nominated director or proposals on foreign company ballots), the Board generally sends a letter to senior management of the company explaining the basis for its vote. This permits both the company’s management and the Board to have an opportunity to gain better insight into issues presented by the proxy proposal(s).

Voting in Countries Outside The United States (Non-U.S. Countries)

Voting proxies for companies not domiciled in the United States may involve greater effort and cost due to a variety of regulatory schemes and corporate practices. For example, certain non-U.S. countries require trading of securities to be blocked prior to a vote, which means that the securities to be voted may not be traded within a specified number of days before the shareholder meeting. The Board typically will not vote securities in non-U.S. countries that require securities to be blocked as the need for liquidity of the securities in the Funds will typically outweigh the benefit of voting. There may be additional costs associated with voting in non-U.S. countries such that the Board may determine that the cost of voting outweighs the potential benefit.

Securities on Loan

The funds from time to time engage in lending securities held in certain funds to third parties in order to generate additional income. The Board will generally refrain from recalling securities on loan based upon its determination that the costs and lost revenue to the funds, combined with the administrative effects of recalling the securities, generally outweigh the benefit of voting the proxy. While in general, neither the Board nor Columbia Management assesses the economic impact and benefits of voting loaned securities on a case-by-case basis, situations may arise where the Board requests that loaned securities be recalled in order to vote a proxy. However, the Board has established a guideline to direct Columbia Management to endeavor to recall a loaned security if (i) a proposal relating to a merger or acquisition, a material restructuring or reorganization, a proxy contest or a shareholder rights plan is expected to be on the ballot or (ii) the prior year’s evaluation of the issuer’s pay-for-performance practices has raised concerns, based upon its determination that, in these situations, the benefits of voting such proxies generally outweigh the costs or lost revenue to the funds, or any potential adverse administrative effects to the funds, of not recalling such securities.

Investment in Affiliated Funds

Certain funds may invest in shares of other funds managed by Columbia Management (referred to in this context as “underlying funds”) and may own substantial portions of these underlying funds. In general, the proxy policy of the funds is to ensure that direct public shareholders of underlying funds control the outcome of any shareholder vote. To help manage

 

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this potential conflict of interest, the policy of the funds is to vote proxies of the underlying funds in the same proportion as the vote of the direct public shareholders; provided, however, that if there are no direct public shareholders of an underlying fund or if direct public shareholders represent only a minority interest in an underlying fund, the fund may cast votes in accordance with instructions from the independent members of the Board.

Organization and Management of Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries

As described herein and in its prospectus, VP – Commodity Strategy Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (previously defined collectively as the “Subsidiary”). At the commencement of operations of VP – Commodity Strategy Fund it is expected that, initially, one wholly-owned subsidiary of VP – Commodity Strategy Fund will operate to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets. The Subsidiary is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, whose registered office is located at the offices of P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman Islands. The Subsidiary’s affairs are overseen by its own board of directors. However, the Board of Commodity Strategy Fund maintains oversight responsibility for investment activities of the Subsidiary generally as if the Subsidiary’s investments were held directly by the Fund. The following individuals serve as Directors of the Subsidiary:

 

Name, address,
year of birth
   Position held
with Subsidiary and
length of service
   Principal occupation
during past five years

Anthony P. Haugen

807 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

1964

   Director since 2013    Vice President Finance, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since June 2004

Amy K. Johnson

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

1965

   Director since 2013    See Fund Governance – The Officers

Paul D. Pearson

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

1956

   Director since 2013    See Fund Governance – The Officers

The Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts for the provision of advisory, administrative and custody services with the same service providers who provide those services to the Fund. Each Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the services it receives pursuant to those agreements.

The financial information of the Subsidiary will be consolidated into the Fund’s financial statements, as contained within the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports provided to shareholders.

As described below under TAXATION — Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company , in order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs under the Code, the Fund must satisfy a 90% gross income requirement and an asset diversification requirement. These requirements are not applicable to the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will take steps to ensure that income recognized by the Fund in respect of the Subsidiary will be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. For purposes of the asset diversification requirement, the Fund will limit its investment in the Subsidiary in the aggregate to 25% or less of the Fund’s total assets as of the end of every quarter of its taxable year; the asset diversification requirement applies to the Fund’s interest in the Subsidiary but not to the Subsidiary’s investments.

Changes in U.S. laws and/or the laws of the Cayman Islands could prevent the Fund and/or the Subsidiary from operating as described in the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose certain taxes on the Subsidiary, including any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require the Subsidiary to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.

By investing in one or more wholly owned subsidiaries organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (Subsidiary), the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The derivatives and other investments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same risks that would apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is subject to the same principal risk that the Fund is subject to (which are described in the applicable Fund’s prospectus). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and, except as otherwise noted, is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Investment Manager, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its

 

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shareholders. The Fund’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. In managing the Subsidiary’s investment portfolio, the Investment Manager will manage the Subsidiary’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI and could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law were changed and the Subsidiary was required to pay Cayman Island taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.

 

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FUND GOVERNANCE

Trustees and Officers

Shareholders elect the Board that oversees the Funds’ operations. The Board appoints officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies set by the Board. The following table provides basic biographical information about the Funds’ Board members, including their principal occupations during the past five years, although specific titles for individuals may have varied over the period. Under current Board policy, members may serve through the end of the calendar year in which he or she reaches either the mandatory retirement age established by the Board or the fifteenth anniversary of the first Board meeting they attended as a member of the Board.

TRUSTEES

Independent Trustees

 

Name, address,
year of birth
 

Position held

with Funds and

length of service

 

Principal occupation(s)

during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience

 

Number of funds

in the Fund Family
overseen by

Board member

 

Other present or past

directorships/trusteeships

(within past 5 years)

  Committee
memberships
Kathleen Blatz 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402 1954   Board member since 1/06 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds   Attorney; Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1998-2006   131   Trustee, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota since 2009   Board Governance, Compliance, Contracts, Investment Review

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1944

  Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds   Managing Director, E.J. Boudreau & Associates (consulting) since 2000; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock Funds (mutual funds), 1989-2000   129   Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds), 2005-2011   Audit, Compliance, Executive, Investment Review

Pamela G. Carlton 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1954

  Board member since 7/07 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds   President, Springboard-Partners in Cross Cultural Leadership (consulting company) since 2003; Director or Managing Director of US Equity Research, Chase Asset Management, 1996-2003; Investment Banker, Morgan Stanley, 1982-1996   131   None   Audit, Investment Review

 

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Name, address,
year of birth
 

Position held

with funds and

length of service

 

Principal occupation(s)

during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience

 

Number of funds

in the Fund Family
overseen by

Board member

 

Other present or past

directorships/trusteeships

(within past 5 years)

  Committee
memberships

William P. Carmichael

901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1943

  Chair of the Board since 1/14, Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 2003 for Nations Funds   Retired; Co-founder, The Succession Fund (provides exit strategies to owners of privately held companies); previously, Senior Vice President, Sara Lee Corporation; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Beatrice Foods Company; Vice President, Esmark, Inc; Associate, PriceWaterhouse   131   Director, Cobra Electronics Corporation (electronic equipment manufacturer); The Finish Line (athletic shoes and apparel) since July 2003; Director, International Textile Corp. since 2012; former Director, McMoRan Exploration Company (oil and gas exploration and development) 2010-2013; Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds) 2009-2011; Director, Spectrum Brands, Inc. (consumer products), 2002-2009; Director, Simmons Company (bedding), 2004-2010   Board Governance, Compliance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review

Patricia M. Flynn 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1950

  Board member since 11/04 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds   Trustee Professor of Economics and Management, Bentley University since 1976 (teaches and conducts research on corporate governance); Dean McCallum Graduate School of Business Bently University, 1992-2002   131   None  

Audit,

Compliance Investment Review

William A. Hawkins

901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1942

  Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds   Managing Director, Overton Partners (financial consulting), since August 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer, California General Bank, N.A., January 2008-August 2010   129   Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds)   Audit, Executive, Compliance, Investment Review

R. Glenn Hilliard

901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1943

  Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/05 for Nations Funds   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hilliard Group LLC (investing and consulting) since April 2003; Non-Executive Director & Chairman, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (insurance), September 2003-May 2011   129   Chairman, BofA Fund Series Trust (11 funds); former Director, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (insurance)   Board Governance, Contracts, Investment Review

 

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Name, address,
year of birth
 

Position held

with funds and

length of service

 

Principal occupation(s)

during past five years
and other relevant
professional experience

 

Number of funds

in the Fund Family

overseen by

Board member

 

Other present or past

directorships/trusteeships

(within past 5 years)

  Committee
memberships

Stephen R. Lewis, Jr. 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402

1939

  Board member for RiverSource Funds since 1/02 and since 6/11 for Nations Funds, Board Chair 1/07-12/13   President Emeritus and Professor of Economics Emeritus, Carleton College since 2002   131   Director, Valmont Industries, Inc. (irrigation systems manufacturer) since 2002   Board Governance, Compliance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review
Catherine James Paglia 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402 1952   Board member since 11/04 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds   Director, Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (private real estate and asset management company)   131   Director, Valmont Industries, Inc. (irrigation systems manufacturer) since 2012   Board Governance, Contracts, Executive, Investment Review
Leroy C. Richie 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402 1941   Board member since 2000 for Legacy Seligman Funds, since 11/08 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds   Counsel, Lewis & Munday, P.C. (law firm) since 2004; Vice President and General Counsel, Automotive Legal Affairs, Chrysler Corporation, 1993-1997   131   Lead Outside Director, Digital Ally, Inc. (digital imaging) since September 2005; Director, Infinity, Inc. (oil and gas exploration and production) since 1994; Director, OGE Energy Corp. (energy and energy services) since November 2007   Contracts, Compliance, Investment Review
Minor M. Shaw 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402 1947   Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 2003 for Nations Funds   President, Micco LLC (private investments) since 2011; President, Micco Corp. since 1998   129   Director, Piedmont Natural Gas; Director, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina since April 2008; Director, National Association of Corporate Directors, Carolinas Chapter, since 2013; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds)   Board Governance, Contracts, Investment Review
Alison Taunton-Rigby 901 S. Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402 1944  

Board member

since 11/02 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds

  Chief Executive Officer and Director, RiboNovix, Inc., (biotechnology) 2003-2010   131   Director, Healthways, Inc. (health and well-being improvement) since 2005; Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company, RRG since 2011; Director, Abt Associates (government contractor) since 2001; Director, Boston Children’s Hospital since 2002   Audit, Investment Review

 

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Interested Trustee Not Affiliated with Investment Manager* 

 

Name, address,
year of birth
 

Position held

with funds and

length of service

 

Principal occupation

during past five years

 

Number of funds

in the Fund Family
overseen by

Board member

 

Other present or past

directorships/trusteeships

(within past 5 years)

 

Committee

memberships

Anthony M. Santomero

901 S. Marquette Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55402

1946

  Board member since 6/11 for RiverSource Funds and since 1/08 for Nations Funds   Richard K. Mellon Professor Emeritus of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, since 2002; Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company (consulting), 2006-2008   129   Director, Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. since May 2008; Trustee, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since March 2008; Director, Citigroup Inc. since 2009; Director, Citibank, N.A. since 2009; former Trustee, BofA Funds Series Trust (11 funds)   Compliance, Executive, Investment Review

 

* Dr. Santomero is not an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial. However, he is currently deemed by the Funds to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds because he serves as a Director of Citigroup Inc. and Citibank, N.A., companies that may directly or through subsidiaries and affiliates engage from time-to-time in brokerage execution, principal transactions and lending relationships with the Funds or accounts advised/managed by the Investment Manager

 

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Interested Trustee Affiliated with Investment Manager* 

 

Name, address,
year of birth
 

Position held

with funds and

length of service

 

Principal occupation

during past five years

 

Number of funds

in the Fund Family
overseen by

Board member

 

Other present or past

directorships/trusteeships

(within past 5 years)

 

Committee

memberships

William F. Truscott 53600 Ameriprise Financial Center Minneapolis, MN 55474 1960  

Board member since 11/01 for RiverSource Funds and since 6/11 for Nations Funds; Senior Vice President since 2002

for

RiverSource

Funds and

since 5/10

for Nations

Funds

  Chairman of the Board and President, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously President and Chief Investment Officer, 2001-April 2010); Chief Executive Officer, Global Asset Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since September 2012 (previously Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Asset Management & President, Annuities, May 2010- September 2012 and President –U.S. Asset Management and Chief Investment Officer, 2005-April 2010); Director and Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. since May 2010 and February 2012, respectively (previously Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, 2006-April 2010); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, RiverSource Distributors, Inc. since 2006; Director, Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings, SARL since 2014; President and Chief Executive Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006-August 2012.   183   Director, Ameriprise Certificate Company, 2006-January 2013   None

 

 

  *   Interested person (as defined under the 1940 Act) by reason of being an officer, director, security holder and/or employee of the Investment Manager or Ameriprise Financial.

 

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The Board has appointed officers who are responsible for day-to-day business decisions based on policies it has established. The officers serve at the pleasure of the Board. In addition to Mr. Truscott, who is Senior Vice President, the Funds’ other officers are:

FUND OFFICERS

 

Name, Address and Year of Birth   

Position and Year First
Appointed to Position for any
Fund in the Columbia Funds
Complex or a

Predecessor Thereof

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

J. Kevin Connaughton

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1964

   President and Principal Executive Officer (2009)    Managing Director and General Manager Mutual Fund Products, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; and President, Columbia Funds since 2009; Managing Director, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, December 2004 - April 2010; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Columbia Funds, June 2008 - January 2009; and senior officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2003.

Michael G. Clarke

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1969

   Treasurer (2011) and Chief Financial Officer (2009)    Vice President – Mutual Fund Administration, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, since May 2010; Managing Director of Fund Administration, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, September 2004 - April 2010; senior officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2002.

Scott R. Plummer

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Born 1959

   Senior Vice President (2006), Chief Legal Officer (2006) and Assistant Secretary (2011)    Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel – Global Asset Management, Ameriprise Financial since February 2014 (previously, Senior Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel – Asset Management, 2012 - February 2014; Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel – Asset Management, 2010 - 2012; and Vice President and Chief Counsel – Asset Management, 2005 - 2010); Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since June 2005; Vice President, Chief Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. since 2008; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Ameriprise Certificate Company since 2005; Chief Counsel, RiverSource Distributors, Inc. since 2006; senior officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2006.

Thomas P. McGuire

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1972

   Chief Compliance Officer (2012)    Vice President – Asset Management Compliance, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since May 2010; Chief Compliance Officer, Ameriprise Certificate Company since September 2010; Compliance Executive, Bank of America, 2005 - April 2010.

Colin Moore

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1958

   Senior Vice President (2010)    Executive Vice President and Global Chief Investment Officer, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., since July 2013; Director and Global Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; Manager, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, 2007 - April 2010.

Michael E. DeFao

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1968

   Vice President (2011) and Assistant Secretary (2010)    Vice President and Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since May 2010; Associate General Counsel, Bank of America, 2005 - April 2010.

Joseph F. DiMaria

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1968

   Vice President (2011) and Chief Accounting Officer (2008)    Vice President – Mutual Fund Treasurer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; Director of Fund Administration, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC, 2006 - April 2010.

 

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Name, Address and Year of Birth   

Position and Year First
Appointed to Position for any
Fund in the Columbia Funds
Complex or a

Predecessor Thereof

   Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Paul B. Goucher

100 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Born 1968

   Vice President (2011) and Assistant Secretary (2008)    Vice President and Lead Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since November 2008 and January 2013, respectively (previously Chief Counsel, January 2010 - January 2013 and Group Counsel, November 2008 - January 2010); Director, Managing Director and General Counsel, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated, July 2008 - November 2008.

Amy Johnson

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN

Born 1965

   Vice President (2006)    Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010 (previously Chief Administrative Officer, 2009 - April 2010, and Vice President – Asset Management and Trust Company Services, 2006 - 2009).

Paul D. Pearson

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN

Born 1956

   Vice President (2011) and Assistant Treasurer (1999)    Vice President – Investment Accounting, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC since May 2010; Vice President – Managed Assets, Investment Accounting, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 1998 - April 2010.

Christopher O. Petersen

5228 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

Born 1970

   Vice President and Secretary (2010)    Vice President and Chief Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. since January 2010 (previously Vice President and Group Counsel or Counsel 2004 - January 2010); officer of Columbia Funds and affiliated funds since 2007.

Stephen T. Welsh

225 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Born 1957

   Vice President (2006)    President and Director, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. since May 2010; President and Director, Columbia Management Services, Inc., 2004 - April 2010; Managing Director, Columbia Management Distributors, Inc., 2007 - April 2010.

Responsibilities of Board with respect to fund management

The Board oversees management of the trusts and the funds (collectively, the “funds”). The Board is chaired by an Independent Trustee who has significant additional responsibilities compared to the other Board members, including, among other things: setting the agenda for Board meetings, communicating and meeting regularly with Board members between Board and committee meetings on fund-related matters with the funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), counsel to the Independent Trustees (as described below), and representatives of the funds’ service providers and overseeing Board Services.

The Board initially approves an Investment Management Services Agreement and other contracts with the investment manager and its affiliates, and other service providers. Once the contracts are approved, the Board monitors the level and quality of services including commitments of service providers to achieve expected levels of investment performance and shareholder services. Annually, the Board evaluates the services received under the contracts by receiving reports covering investment performance, shareholder services, marketing, and the investment manager’s profitability in order to determine whether to continue existing contracts or negotiate new contracts. The investment manager is responsible for day-to-day management and administration of the funds and management of the risks that arise from the funds’ investments and operations. The Board’s oversight of the investment manager and other service providers in the operation of the funds includes oversight with respect to various risk management functions. The funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks, among others. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the investment manager, the subadvisers and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) who carry out the funds’ investment management and business affairs. Each of the investment manager, the subadvisers and other service providers has its own, independent interest in risk management, and its policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on its analysis of the risks, functions and business models.

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect a fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or even mitigate their occurrence or effects. As part of its regular oversight of the trusts, the Board, directly or through a committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the investment manager, subadvisers, the independent registered public accounting firm for the funds, and internal auditors for the investment manager or its affiliates, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the funds and relevant risk functions. The Board also meets periodically with the funds’ CCO, to receive reports regarding the compliance of the funds and their principal

 

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service providers with the federal securities laws and their internal compliance policies and procedures. The Board, with the assistance of the Investment Review Committee, reviews investment policies in connection with its review of the funds’ performance, and meets periodically with the portfolio managers of the funds to receive reports regarding the management of the funds, including various investment risks. As part of the Board’s periodic review of the funds’ advisory, subadvisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible. In addition, the Board oversees processes that are in place to assure compliance with applicable rules, regulations and investment policies and addresses possible conflicts of interest.

Committees of the Board

The Board has organized the following standing committees to facilitate its work: Board Governance Committee, Compliance Committee, Contracts Committee, Executive Committee, Investment Review Committee and Audit Committee. These Committees are comprised solely of Independent Trustees (for these purposes, persons who are not affiliated persons of the investment manager or Ameriprise Financial). The table above describing each Trustee also includes their respective committee memberships. The duties of these committees are described below.

Mr. Lewis, as Chair of the Board, acts as a point of contact between the Independent Trustees and the investment manager between Board meetings in respect of general matters.

Board Governance Committee — Recommends to the Board the size, structure and composition of the Board and its committees; the compensation to be paid to members of the Board; and a process for evaluating the Board’s performance. The committee also reviews candidates for Board membership including candidates recommended by shareholders. The committee also makes recommendations to the Board regarding responsibilities and duties of the Board, oversees proxy voting and supports the work of the Board Chair in relation to furthering the interests of the Funds and their shareholders on external matters.

To be considered as a candidate for trustee, recommendations must include a curriculum vitae and be mailed to the Chair of the Board, Columbia Family of Funds, 901 South Marquette Avenue, Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402- 3268. To be timely for consideration by the committee, the submission, including all required information, must be submitted in writing not less than 120 days before the date of the proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders, if such a meeting is held. The committee will consider only one candidate submitted by such a shareholder or group for nomination for election at a meeting of shareholders. The committee will not consider self-nominated candidates or candidates nominated by members of a candidate’s family, including such candidate’s spouse, children, parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, nieces and nephews.

The committee will consider and evaluate candidates submitted by the nominating shareholder or group on the basis of the same criteria as those used to consider and evaluate candidates submitted from other sources. The committee may take into account a wide variety of factors in considering trustee candidates, including (but not limited to): (i) the candidate’s knowledge in matters relating to the investment company industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the candidate as a director or senior officer of other public or private companies; (iii) the candidate’s educational background; (iv) the candidate’s reputation for high ethical standards and personal and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the candidate, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (vi) the candidate’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the candidate’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly, work collaboratively with other members of the Board and carry out his or her duties in the best interests of the fund; (vii) the candidate’s ability to qualify as an independent trustee; and (viii) such other criteria as the committee determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other factors.

Members of the committee (and/or the Board) also meet personally with each nominee to evaluate the candidate’s ability to work effectively with other members of the Board, while also exercising independent judgment. Although the Board does not have a formal diversity policy, the Board endeavors to comprise itself of members with a broad mix of professional and personal backgrounds. Thus, the committee and the Board accorded particular weight to the individual professional background of each Independent Trustees, as encapsulated in their bios included in the above table.

The Board believes that the funds are well-served by a Board, the membership of which consists of persons that represent a broad mix of professional and personal backgrounds. In considering nominations, the Committee takes the following matrix into account in assessing how a candidate’s professional background (which is reflected in the biographical information included in the “Trustees” table above) would fit into the mix of experiences represented by the then-current Board.

 

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            PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Name   Geographic   For Profit;
CIO/CFO;
CEO/COO
  Non-Profit;
Government;
CEO
  Investment   Legal;
Regulatory
  Political   Academic   Audit
Committee;
Financial Expert

Blatz

  MN       X       X   X        

Boudreau

  MA   X       X               X

Carlton

  NY           X   X           X

Carmichael

  IL   X   X   X   X           X

Flynn

  MA                       X    

Hawkins

  CA   X       X               X

Hilliard

  CA   X                        

Lewis

  MN       X               X    

Paglia

  NY   X       X               X

Richie

  MI   X           X            

Santomero

  PA       X   X   X       X   X

Shaw

  SC   X       X                

Taunton-Rigby

  MA   X       X               X

With respect to the trusteeship of Mr. Truscott on the Board, who is not an Independent Trustee, the committee and the Board have concluded that having a senior member of the investment manager serve on the Board can facilitate the Independent Trustees’ increased access to information regarding the funds’ investment manager, which is the funds’ most significant service provider. With respect to the trusteeship of Dr. Santomero on the Board, the committee and the Board have concluded that, despite his lack of technical independence of the funds under the 1940 Act (arising from his board service to Citigroup, Inc. and Citigroup, N.A.), he could serve with “substantive independence” primarily since he has no financial interest or relationship with the investment manager or Ameriprise Financial. The committee and the Board also took into account Dr. Santomero’s broad array of experiences from management consulting to academia to public service, which can complement well the mix of experiences represented by the other Board members. The committee held 8 meetings during the last fiscal year.

Compliance Committee  — Supports the funds’ maintenance of a strong compliance program by providing a forum for Independent Trustees to consider compliance matters impacting the Funds or their key service providers; developing and implementing, in coordination with the funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), a process for the review and consideration of compliance reports that are provided to the Board; and providing a designated forum for the Funds’ CCO to meet with Independent Trustees on a regular basis to discuss compliance matters. The committee held 5 meetings during the last fiscal year.

Contracts Committee  — Reviews and oversees the contractual relationships with service providers. Receives and analyzes reports covering the level and quality of services provided under contracts with the fund and advises the Board regarding actions taken on these contracts during the annual review process. Reviews and considers, on behalf of all Trustees, the funds’ investment advisory, subadvisory (if any) and principal underwriting contracts to assists the Trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities relating to the Board’s evaluation and consideration of these arrangements. The committee held 6 meetings during the last fiscal year.

Executive Committee  — Acts, as needed, for the Board between meetings of the Board. The committee held 2 meetings during the last fiscal year.

Investment Review Committee  — Reviews and oversees the management of the funds’ assets. Considers investment management policies and strategies; investment performance; risk management techniques; and securities trading practices and reports areas of concern to the Board. The committee held 6 meetings during the last fiscal year.

Audit Committee  — Oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the funds and internal controls over financial reporting. Oversees the quality and integrity of the funds’ financial statements and independent audits as well as the funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the funds’ accounting and financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting and independent audits. The committee also makes recommendations regarding the selection of the funds’ independent auditor and reviews and evaluates the qualifications, independence and performance of the auditor. The committee oversees the funds’ risks by, among other things, meeting with the funds’ internal auditors, establishing procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns about accounting or audit matters, and overseeing the funds’ Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The committee held 6 meetings during the last fiscal year.

 

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BENEFICIAL EQUITY OWNERSHIP

The table below shows, for each Trustee, the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Columbia Fund Family overseen by the Trustees, including notional amounts through the Deferred Compensation Plan, as of the most recent fiscal year end. The table only includes ownership of Columbia Funds overseen by the Trustees; the Trustees and Officers may own shares of other Columbia Funds they do not oversee. All shares of the Variable Portfolio funds are owned by life insurance companies and are not available for purchase by individuals. Consequently no Trustee owns any shares of Variable Portfolio funds.

 

Board Member  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities of All

Funds Overseen by Board Member

Kathleen Blatz

  Over $100,000

Edward Boudreau

   Over $100,000*

Pamela G. Carlton

   Over $100,000*

William Carmichael

   Over $100,000*

Patricia M. Flynn

   Over $100,000*

William Hawkins

   Over $100,000*

R. Glenn Hilliard

   Over $100,000*

Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.

   Over $100,000*

Catherine James Paglia

   Over $100,000*

Leroy C. Richie

  Over $100,000

Anthony Santomero

  Over $100,000

Minor Shaw

   Over $100,000*

Alison Taunton-Rigby

   Over $100,000*

William F. Truscott

  Over $100,000

 

* Includes deferred compensation invested in share equivalents as well as amounts invested through 529 plans established by the Trustee.

COMPENSATION

Total compensation. The following table shows the total compensation paid to Independent Trustees from all the Funds in the Fund Complex in the last fiscal year end.

Board Member Compensation — All Funds

 

Board member (a)    Total Cash Compensation from Fund
Complex Paid to Trustee (b)
     Amount Deferred
from Total Compensation (c)
 

Kathleen Blatz

   $ 287,500         N/A   

Edward Boudreau

   $ 285,000       $ 99,750   

Pamela Carlton

   $ 280,000       $ 112,000   

William Carmichael

   $ 277,000         N/A   

Patricia Flynn

   $ 280,000       $ 280,000   

William Hawkins

   $ 287,500       $ 85,500   

R. Glenn Hilliard

   $ 277,500         N/A   

Stephen Lewis, Jr.

   $ 430,000       $ 309,600   

Catherine James Paglia

   $ 302,500       $ 151,250   

Leroy C. Richie

   $ 285,000         N/A   

Anthony Santomero

   $ 270,000       $ 135,000   

Minor Shaw

   $ 277,500       $ 138,750   

Alison Taunton-Rigby

   $ 295,000       $ 236,000   

 

(a) Board member compensation is paid by the funds and is comprised of a combination of a base fee and meeting fees, with the exception of the Chair of the Board, who receives a base annual compensation. Payment of compensation is administered by a company providing limited administrative services to the funds and to the Board.
(b) Includes any portion of total cash compensation Trustees elected to defer during the fiscal period.
(c) The Board Members may elect to defer a portion of the total cash compensation payable. Additional information regarding the Deferred Compensation Plan is described below.

 

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Trustees did not accrue any pension or retirement benefits as part of Trust expenses, nor will they receive any annual benefits upon retirement.

The Independent Trustees determine the amount of compensation that they receive, including the amount paid to the Chair of the Board. In determining compensation for the Independent Trustees, the Independent Trustees take into account a variety of factors including, among other things, their collective significant work experience (e.g., in business and finance, government or academia). The Independent Trustees also recognize that these individuals’ advice and counsel are in demand by other organizations, that these individuals may reject other opportunities due to the time demands of their duties as Independent Trustees, and that they undertake significant legal responsibilities. The Independent Trustees also consider the compensation paid to independent board members of other mutual fund complexes of comparable size, and, in doing so, they seek to set their compensation from the Fund at a level that approximates or is lower than the median level of compensation paid by such other comparable complexes. In determining the compensation paid to the Chair, the Independent Trustees take into account, among other things, the Chair’s significant additional responsibilities (e.g., setting the agenda for Board meetings, communicating or meeting regularly with the Funds’ CCO, Counsel to the Independent Trustees, and the Funds’ service providers) which result in a significantly greater time commitment required of the Board Chair. The Chair’s compensation, therefore, has been set at a higher level than the other independent Board members.

The Independent Trustees, other than the Board Chairman, are paid an annual retainer of $180,000 with respect to all Funds in the Columbia Fund Complex overseen by them. Additionally, the Independent Trustees who serve the two closed-end funds (collectively, the “Closed-End Funds”) each receive $10,000 annually. The Independent Trustees also receive the following compensation from funds in the Columbia Funds Complex other than the Closed-End Funds: committee Chairs each receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000 and subcommittee Chairs each receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000. In addition, Independent Trustees are paid the following fees for attending Board and committee meetings: $5,000 per day of in-person Board meetings and $2,500 per day of in-person committee or sub-committee meetings (if such meetings are not held on the same day as a Board meeting). Independent Trustees are not paid for special meetings conducted by telephone. The Board’s Chair will receive total annual cash compensation of $395,000, of which $10,000 is allocated from the Closed-End Funds.

Deferred Compensation Plan. The Independent Trustees may elect to defer payment of up to 100% of the compensation they receive in accordance with a Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Plan). Under the Deferred Plan, a Board member may elect to have his or her deferred compensation treated as if they had been invested in shares of one or more Fund and the amount paid to the Board member under the Deferred Plan will be determined based on the performance of such investments. Distributions may be taken in a lump sum or over a period of years. The Deferred Plan will remain unfunded for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. It is anticipated that deferral of Board member compensation in accordance with the Deferred Plan will have, at most, a negligible impact on Fund assets and liabilities.

The Independent Trustees have a policy that each Trustee invests in shares of one or more of the Funds (including the Closed-End Funds) overseen by the Trustee (including shares held in the Deferred Compensation Plan) in an aggregate amount that is at least equal to the annual total compensation received by the Trustee from the Columbia Fund Complex. All Independent Trustees meet this standard.

Compensation from each Fund. The following table shows the compensation paid to Independent Trustees from each Fund during the last fiscal year end.

Trustee Compensation — Individual Funds

 

    Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Fund   Blatz   Boudreau   Carlton   Carmichael   Flynn   Hawkins   Hilliard   Lewis   Paglia   Leroy
Richie
  Santomero   Shaw  

Taunton-

Rigby

VP – Aggressive Portfolio       2,411         2,608         2,392         2,589         2,392         2,615         2,411         3,712         2,627         2,404         2,392         2,411         2,608  
Deferred       0         913         957         0         2,392         783         0         2,673         1,313         0         1,196         1,206         2,086  
VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund       4,380         4,441         4,245         4,298         4,245         4,486         4,380         6,606         4,575         4,335         4,245         4,380         4,440  
Deferred       0         1,554         1,698         0         4,245         1,332         0         4,756         2,288         0         2,123         2,190         3,552  
VP – Balanced Fund       1,789         1,821         1,735         1,765         1,735         1,839         1,789         2,705         1,874         1,771         1,736         1,789         1,820  
Deferred       0         637         694         0         1,735         546         0         1,947         937         0         868         895         1,456  
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund       4,000         4,043         3,865         3,899         3,865         4,089         4,001         6,053         4,179         3,955         3,865         4,001         4,043  
Deferred       0         1,415         1,546         0         3,865         1,213         0         4,358         2,089         0         1,932         2,000         3,234  
VP – Cash Management Fund       1,622         1,653         1,574         1,601         1,574         1,669         1,623         2,454         1,701         1,606         1,574         1,623         1,653  
Deferred       0         579         630         0         1,574         496         0         1,767         851         0         787         811         1,322  
VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund       1,503         1,532         1,460         1,487         1,460         1,547         1,504         2,272         1,576         1,489         1,460         1,504         1,532  
Deferred       0         536         584         0         1,460         460         0         1,636         788         0         730         752         1,226  

 

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    Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Fund   Blatz   Boudreau   Carlton   Carmichael   Flynn   Hawkins   Hilliard   Lewis   Paglia   Leroy
Richie
  Santomero   Shaw  

Taunton-

Rigby

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund       1,622         1,652         1,573         1,602         1,573         1,669         1,622         2,455         1,701         1,605         1,573         1,622         1,652  
Deferred       0         578         629         0         1,573         496         0         1,768         851         0         786         811         1,322  
VP – Commodity Strategy Fund       483         526         483         526         483         526         483         718         526         483         483         483         526  
Deferred       0         184         193         0         483         158         0         517         263         0         242         242         421  
VP – Conservative Portfolio       1,982         2,166         1,963         2,146         1,963         2,172         1,983         3,075         2,184         1,976         1,964         1,983         2,165  
Deferred       0         758         785         0         1,963         650         0         2,214         1,092         0         982         991         1,732  
VP – Core Equity Fund       948         971         922         944         922         980         949         1,437         997         939         922         949         971  
Deferred       0         340         369         0         922         291         0         1,035         499         0         461         474         777  
VP – DFA International Value Fund       2,396         2,421         2,316         2,336         2,316         2,448         2,396         3,620         2,500         2,369         2,316         2,396         2,420  
Deferred       0         847         926         0         2,316         726         0         2,607         1,250         0         1,158         1,198         1,936  
VP – Diversified Bond Fund       5,151         5,204         4,973         5,016         4,973         5,264         5,152         7,761         5,382         5,092         4,974         5,152         5,204  
Deferred       0         1,822         1,989         0         4,973         1,561         0         5,588         2,691         0         2,487         2,576         4,163  
VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund       4,590         4,654         4,447         4,506         4,447         4,702         4,590         6,931         4,797         4,542         4,447         4,590         4,653  
Deferred       0         1,629         1,779         0         4,447         1,396         0         4,990         2,398         0         2,224         2,295         3,723  
VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund       1,683         1,716         1,633         1,663         1,633         1,732         1,684         2,548         1,766         1,667         1,633         1,684         1,715  
Deferred       0         600         653         0         1,633         515         0         1,834         883         0         817         842         1,372  
VP – Emerging Markets Fund       1,880         1,910         1,822         1,849         1,822         1,929         1,880         2,838         1,967         1,861         1,823         1,880         1,909  
Deferred       0         668         729         0         1,822         573         0         2,044         983         0         911         940         1,527  
VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund       1,199         1,225         1,164         1,188         1,164         1,237         1,200         1,816         1,260         1,188         1,164         1,200         1,086  
Deferred       0         429         466         0         1,164         367         0         1,308         630         0         582         600         869  
VP – Global Bond Fund       2,383         2,410         2,302         2,323         2,302         2,437         2,384         3,607         2,490         2,356         2,303         2,384         2,409  
Deferred       0         843         921         0         2,302         723         0         2,597         1,245         0         1,151         1,192         1,927  
VP – High Yield Bond Fund       1,474         1,502         1,430         1,455         1,430         1,516         1,474         2,230         1,545         1,459         1,430         1,474         1,501  
Deferred       0         526         572         0         1,430         450         0         1,606         773         0         715         737         1,201  
VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund       2,505         2,535         2,424         2,446         2,424         2,562         2,506         3,791         2,616         2,478         2,425         2,506         2,535  
Deferred       0         887         970         0         2,424         761         0         2,729         1,308         0         1,212         1,253         2,028  
VP – Income Opportunities Fund       2,079         2,122         2,019         2,058         2,019         2,142         2,079         3,139         2,181         2,059         2,019         2,079         2,121  
Deferred       0         743         808         0         2,019         637         0         2,260         1,091         0         1,010         1,040         1,697  
VP – International Opportunity Fund       1,205         1,230         1,170         1,193         1,170         1,242         1,205         1,823         1,264         1,193         1,170         1,205         1,230  
Deferred       0         431         468         0         1,170         369         0         1,313         632         0         585         603         984  
VP – Invesco International Growth Fund       3,091         3,129         2,991         3,024         2,991         3,162         3,092         4,665         3,228         3,058         2,992         3,092         3,128  
Deferred       0         1,095         1,196         0         2,991         939         0         3,359         1,614         0         1,496         1,546         2,503  
VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund       4,297         4,359         4,165         4,219         4,165         4,402         4,298         6,481         4,490         4,253         4,166         4,298         4,358  
Deferred       0         1,526         1,666         0         4,165         1,308         0         4,667         2,245         0         2,083         2,149         3,486  
VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund       2,011         2,043         1,948         1,978         1,948         2,063         2,011         3,041         2,105         1,990         1,948         2,011         2,042  
Deferred       0         715         779         0         1,948         613         0         2,190         1,052         0         974         1,006         1,634  
VP – Large Cap Growth Fund       1,860         1,915         1,815         1,879         1,815         1,930         1,860         2,799         1,959         1,845         1,816         1,860         1,915  
Deferred       0         670         726         0         1,815         575         0         2,016         980         0         908         930         1,532  
VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund       2,474         2,526         2,405         2,455         2,405         2,549         2,474         3,740         2,595         2,451         2,405         2,474         2,526  
Deferred       0         884         962         0         2,405         758         0         2,693         1,297         0         1,203         1,237         2,021  
VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund       4,118         4,177         3,991         4,042         3,991         4,220         4,119         6,217         4,305         4,076         3,991         4,119         4,177  
Deferred       0         1,462         1,596         0         3,991         1,253         0         4,476         2,152         0         1,995         2,059         3,342  
VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund       2,376         2,393         2,293         2,303         2,293         2,421         2,376         3,593         2,475         2,348         2,294         2,376         2,393  
Deferred       0         838         917         0         2,293         718         0         2,587         1,238         0         1,147         1,188         1,914  
VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund       4,854         4,972         4,731         4,859         4,731         5,013         4,854         7,327         5,094         4,813         4,731         4,854         4,972  
Deferred       0         1,740         1,892         0         4,731         1,492         0         5,275         2,547         0         2,366         2,427         3,977  
VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund       867         889         843         864         843         897         867         1,314         912         859         843         867         888  
Deferred       0         311         337         0         843         267         0         946         456         0         422         434         710  

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 146   


Table of Contents
    Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Fund   Blatz   Boudreau   Carlton   Carmichael   Flynn   Hawkins   Hilliard   Lewis   Paglia   Leroy
Richie
  Santomero   Shaw  

Taunton-

Rigby

VP – Marsico Growth Fund       1,061         1,085         1,031         1,054         1,031         1,095         1,062         1,607         1,115         1,051         1,031         1,062         1,085  
Deferred       0         380         412         0         1,031         326         0         1,157         557         0         516         531         868  
VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund       792         814         771         791         771         821         793         1,202         835         785         771         793         813  
Deferred       0         285         308         0         771         244         0         865         417         0         386         396         650  
VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund       892         913         867         887         867         922         892         1,351         938         883         867         892         913  
Deferred       0         320         347         0         867         274         0         973         469         0         434         446         730  
VP – MFS Value Fund       3,188         3,238         3,090         3,138         3,090         3,270         3,188         4,815         3,335         3,155         3,090         3,188         3,237  
Deferred       0         1,133         1,236         0         3,090         971         0         3,467         1,667         0         1,545         1,594         2,590  
VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund       1,353         1,381         1,314         1,340         1,314         1,394         1,354         2,046         1,420         1,340         1,315         1,354         1,381  
Deferred       0         483         526         0         1,314         414         0         1,473         710         0         657         677         1,104  
VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund       1,726         1,752         1,671         1,693         1,671         1,770         1,726         2,614         1,807         1,707         1,671         1,726         1,751  
Deferred       0         613         668         0         1,671         526         0         1,882         903         0         836         863         1,401  
VP – Moderate Portfolio       11,485         12,696         11,466         12,676         11,466         12,703         11,485         17,832         12,715         11,478         11,466         11,485         12,696  
Deferred       0         4,444         4,586         0         11,466         3,809         0         12,839         6,357         0         5,733         5,743         10,157  
VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio       7,059         7,764         7,040         7,745         7,040         7,771         7,059         10,933         7,783         7,053         7,040         7,059         7,764  
Deferred       0         2,718         2,816         0         7,040         2,329         0         7,872         3,891         0         3,520         3,530         6,211  
VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio       3,541         3,899         3,522         3,880         3,522         3,906         3,541         5,502         3,918         3,534         3,522         3,541         3,899  
Deferred       0         1,365         1,409         0         3,522         1,170         0         3,962         1,959         0         1,761         1,771         3,119  
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund       1,195         1,221         1,161         1,186         1,161         1,232         1,196         1,808         1,255         1,184         1,162         1,196         1,221  
Deferred       0         427         465         0         1,161         366         0         1,302         627         0         581         598         976  
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund       1,233         1,257         1,196         1,217         1,196         1,269         1,234         1,869         1,294         1,221         1,196         1,234         1,256  
Deferred       0         440         478         0         1,196         377         0         1,346         647         0         598         617         1,005  
VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund       3,078         3,124         2,982         3,024         2,982         3,156         3,078         4,648         3,219         3,046         2,982         3,078         3,123  
Deferred       0         1,093         1,193         0         2,982         937         0         3,347         1,610         0         1,491         1,539         2,498  
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund       2,428         2,449         2,346         2,359         2,346         2,477         2,429         3,673         2,531         2,401         2,346         2,429         2,449  
Deferred       0         857         938         0         2,346         735         0         2,644         1,266         0         1,173         1,214         1,959  
VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund       1,385         1,413         1,345         1,371         1,345         1,426         1,386         2,096         1,453         1,372         1,345         1,386         1,412  
Deferred       0         494         538         0         1,345         424         0         1,509         726         0         672         693         1,130  
VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund       2,748         2,789         2,663         2,700         2,663         2,817         2,749         4,154         2,874         2,720         2,663         2,749         2,788  
Deferred       0         976         1,065         0         2,663         837         0         2,991         1,437         0         1,332         1,374         2,231  
VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund       2,223         2,257         2,155         2,186         2,155         2,279         2,223         3,356         2,324         2,201         2,156         2,223         2,256  
Deferred       0         790         862         0         2,155         677         0         2,416         1,162         0         1,078         1,112         1,805  
VP – S&P 500 Index Fund       995         1,019         968         991         968         1,029         996         1,508         1,047         986         968         996         1,019  
Deferred       0         357         387         0         968         306         0         1,086         523         0         484         498         815  
VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund       1,510         1,540         1,466         1,495         1,466         1,555         1,511         2,285         1,584         1,496         1,467         1,511         1,540  
Deferred       0         539         586         0         1,466         462         0         1,645         792         0         733         755         1,232  
VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund       910         933         885         907         885         941         910         1,379         957         902         885         910         932  
Deferred       0         327         354         0         885         280         0         993         479         0         443         455         746  
VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund       831         852         808         828         808         860         831         1,260         874         823         808         831         852  
Deferred       0         298         323         0         808         256         0         907         437         0         404         415         681  
VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund       2,100         2,143         2,041         2,082         2,041         2,163         2,100         3,174         2,202         2,080         2,041         2,100         2,143  
Deferred       0         750         816         0         2,041         643         0         2,285         1,101         0         1,021         1,050         1,714  
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund       2,455         2,492         2,377         2,410         2,377         2,518         2,455         3,712         2,570         2,429         2,377         2,455         2,492  
Deferred       0         872         951         0         2,377         748         0         2,672         1,285         0         1,189         1,228         1,994  
VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund       2,900         2,951         2,815         2,863         2,815         2,979         2,901         4,374         3,036         2,872         2,816         2,901         2,950  
Deferred       0         1,033         1,126         0         2,815         885         0         3,150         1,518         0         1,408         1,450         2,360  
VP – Victory Established Value Fund       1,991         2,027         1,931         1,965         1,931         2,047         1,992         3,012         2,087         1,971         1,931         1,992         2,026  
Deferred       0         709         772         0         1,931         608         0         2,169         1,043         0         966         996         1,621  

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 147   


Table of Contents
    Aggregate Compensation from Fund
Fund   Blatz   Boudreau   Carlton   Carmichael   Flynn   Hawkins   Hilliard   Lewis   Paglia   Leroy
Richie
  Santomero   Shaw  

Taunton-

Rigby

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund       3,495         3,552         3,390         3,442         3,390         3,587         3,495         5,275         3,657         3,460         3,390         3,495         3,552  
Deferred       0         1,243         1,356         0         3,390         1,066         0         3,798         1,828         0         1,695         1,748         2,841  

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

General Brokerage Policy, Brokerage Transactions and Broker Selection

The Investment Manager (or the investment subadviser(s) who make the day-to-day investment decisions for a Fund, as applicable) is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for each Fund, for the selection of broker-dealers, for the execution of a Fund’s securities transactions and for the allocation of brokerage commissions in connection with such transactions, subject to policies established by the Board. The Investment Manager’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction is to obtain the best net price and the most favorable execution of the order. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who charge negotiated commissions for their services. Orders may be directed to any broker to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law.

In the over-the-counter market, securities generally are traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principals for their own accounts without stated commissions, although the price of a security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are bought at a fixed price that includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s “concession” or “discount.” On occasion, certain money market instruments may be bought directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.

In placing orders for portfolio securities of the Funds, the Investment Manager gives primary consideration to obtaining the best net prices and most favorable execution. This means that the Investment Manager will seek to execute each transaction at a price and commission, if any, which provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably attainable in the circumstances. In seeking such execution, the Investment Manager will use its best judgment in evaluating the terms of a transaction, and will give consideration to various relevant factors, including, without limitation, the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the market for the security, the confidentiality, speed and certainty of effective execution required for the transaction, the general execution and operational capabilities of the broker-dealer, the reputation, reliability, experience and financial condition of the broker-dealer, the value and quality of the services rendered by the broker-dealer in this instance and other transactions and the reasonableness of the spread or commission, if any. Research services received from broker-dealers supplement the Investment Manager’s own research and may include the following types of information: statistical and background information on industry groups and individual companies; forecasts and interpretations with respect to U.S. and foreign economies, securities, markets, specific industry groups and individual companies; information on political developments; Fund management strategies; performance information on securities and information concerning prices of securities; and information supplied by specialized services to the Investment Manager and to the Board with respect to the performance, investment activities and fees and expenses of other mutual funds. Such information may be communicated electronically, orally or in written form. Research services also may include the arranging of meetings with management of companies and the provision of access to consultants who supply research information.

The outside research is useful to the Investment Manager since, in certain instances, the broker-dealers utilized by the Investment Manager may follow a different universe of securities issuers and other matters than those that the Investment Manager’s staff can follow. In addition, this research provides the Investment Manager with a different perspective on financial markets, even if the securities research obtained relates to issuers followed by the Investment Manager. Research services that are provided to the Investment Manager by broker-dealers are available for the benefit of all accounts managed or advised by the Investment Manager. In some cases, the research services are available only from the broker-dealer providing such services. In other cases, the research services may be obtainable from alternative sources. The Investment Manager is of the opinion that because the broker-dealer research supplements rather than replaces the Investment Manager’s own research, the receipt of such research does not tend to decrease the Investment Manager’s expenses, but tends to improve the quality of its investment advice. However, to the extent that the Investment Manager would have bought any such research services had such services not been provided by broker-dealers, the expenses of such services to the Investment Manager could be considered to have been reduced accordingly. Certain research services furnished by broker-dealers may be useful to the clients of the Investment Manager other than the Funds. Conversely, any research services received by the Investment Manager through the placement of transactions of other clients may be of value to the Investment Manager in fulfilling its obligations to the Funds. The Investment Manager is of the opinion that this material is beneficial in supplementing its research and analysis; and, therefore, it may benefit the Trust by improving the quality of the Investment

 

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Manager’s investment advice. The advisory fees paid by the Trust are not reduced because the Investment Manager receives such services.

Under Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Investment Manager shall not be “deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached its fiduciary duty” solely because under certain circumstances it has caused the account to pay a higher commission than the lowest available. To obtain the benefit of Section 28(e), the Investment Manager must make a good faith determination that the commissions paid are “reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such member, broker, or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or his overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which he exercises investment discretion.” Accordingly, the price to a Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Some broker-dealers may indicate that the provision of research services is dependent upon the generation of certain specified levels of commissions and underwriting concessions by the Investment Manager’s clients, including the Funds.

Commission rates are established pursuant to negotiations with broker-dealers based on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by broker-dealers in light of generally prevailing rates. On exchanges on which commissions are negotiated, the cost of transactions may vary among different broker-dealers. Transactions on foreign stock exchanges involve payment of brokerage commissions that generally are fixed. Transactions in both foreign and domestic over-the-counter markets generally are principal transactions with dealers, and the costs of such transactions involve dealer spreads rather than brokerage commissions. With respect to over-the-counter transactions, the Investment Manager, where possible, will deal directly with dealers who make a market in the securities involved, except in those circumstances in which better prices and execution are available elsewhere.

In certain instances there may be securities that are suitable for a Fund as well as for one or more of the other clients of the Investment Manager. Investment decisions for the Funds and for the Investment Manager’s other clients are made with the goal of achieving their respective investment objectives. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client even though it may be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when a number of accounts receive investment advice from the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are engaged simultaneously in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. In some cases, this policy could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular transaction that may affect the Funds.

The Funds may participate, if and when practicable, in bidding for the purchase of portfolio securities directly from an issuer in order to take advantage of the lower purchase price available to members of a bidding group. A Fund will engage in this practice, however, only when the Investment Manager, in its sole discretion, believes such practice to be otherwise in such Fund’s interests.

The Trust will not execute portfolio transactions through, or buy or sell portfolio securities from or to, the Distributor, the Investment Manager, the Administrator or their affiliates acting as principal (including repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements), except to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or order. However, the Investment Manager is authorized to allocate buy and sell orders for portfolio securities to certain broker-dealers and financial institutions, including, in the case of agency transactions, broker-dealers and financial institutions that are affiliated with Ameriprise Financial. To the extent that a Fund executes any securities trades with an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial, such Fund does so in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act and the procedures that such Fund has adopted pursuant to the rule. In this regard, for each transaction, the Board will determine that the transaction is effected in accordance with the Funds’ Rule 17e-1 procedures, which require: (i) the transaction resulted in prices for and execution of securities transactions at least as favorable to the particular Fund as those likely to be derived from a non-affiliated qualified broker-dealer; (ii) the affiliated broker-dealer charged the Fund commission rates consistent with those charged by the affiliated broker-dealer in similar transactions to clients comparable to the Fund and that are not affiliated with the broker-dealer in question; and (iii) the fees, commissions or other remuneration paid by the Fund did not exceed 2% of the sales price of the securities if the sale was effected in connection with a secondary distribution, or 1% of the purchase or sale price of such securities if effected in other than a secondary distribution.

Certain affiliates of Ameriprise Financial may have deposit, loan or commercial banking relationships with the corporate users of facilities financed by industrial development revenue bonds or private activity bonds bought by certain of the Columbia Funds. Ameriprise Financial or certain of its affiliates may serve as trustee, custodian, tender agent, guarantor, placement agent, underwriter, or in some other capacity, with respect to certain issues of securities. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may buy securities from a member of an underwriting syndicate in which an affiliate of Ameriprise

 

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Financial is a member. The Trust has adopted procedures pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act, and intends to comply with the requirements of Rule 10f-3, in connection with any purchases of securities that may be subject to Rule 10f-3.

Given the breadth of the Investment Manager’s investment management activities, investment decisions for the Funds are not always made independently from those for other funds, or other investment companies and accounts advised or managed by the Investment Manager. When a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of one or more of the Columbia Funds and another investment portfolio, investment company or account, the transaction will be averaged as to price and available investments allocated as to amount in a manner which the Investment Manager believes to be equitable to the Funds and such other funds, investment portfolio, investment company or account. In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position obtained or sold by the Fund. To the extent permitted by law, the Investment Manager may aggregate the securities to be sold or bought for the Funds with those to be sold or bought for other funds, investment portfolios, investment companies, or accounts in executing transactions.

See Investment Management and Other Services — Other Roles and Relationships of Ameriprise Financial and its Affiliates — Certain Conflicts of Interest for more information about these and other conflicts of interest.

Brokerage Commissions

The following charts reflect the amounts of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the three most recently completed fiscal years. In certain instances, the Funds may pay brokerage commissions to broker-dealers that are affiliates of Ameriprise Financial. As indicated above, all such transactions involving the payment of brokerage commissions to affiliates are done in compliance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act.

Aggregate Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Funds

The following charts reflect the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the three most recently completed fiscal years. Differences, year to year, in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund were primarily the result of increased market volatility as well as shareholder purchase and redemption activity in the Fund.

Total Brokerage Commissions

 

Total Brokerage Commissions  
Fund    2013     2012     2011  

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

     21,431        276        0   

VP – Balanced Fund

     357,164        410,608        664,792   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

     200,886        61,023        62,074   

VP – Cash Management Fund

     0        0        0   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

     916,080        578,358        551,674   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

     458,888        426,589        275,930   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund

     0 (a)       N/A        N/A   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

     0        0        0   

VP – Core Equity Fund

     107,585        9,954        24,088   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

     476,972        299,856        2,472,812   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

     61,455        128,252        134,331   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

     2,978,428        2,701,264        1,502,019   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

     0        0        0   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

     3,591,865        4,609,042        3,665,627   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

     0        0 (b)       N/A   

VP – Global Bond Fund

     98,308        89,372        80,035   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

     1,723        590        0   

 

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Total Brokerage Commissions  
Fund    2013      2012     2011  

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

   $ 797,630       $ 1,647,425      $ 1,441,486   

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

     4,311         0        0   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

     912,793         700,853        918,156   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

     1,740,195         1,417,619        1,603,074   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

     0         0        0   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

     628,648         673,413        704,997   

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

     1,013,011         315,682        389,658   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

     902,693         252,900        200,789   

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

     71,055         105,536        116,114   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

     746,013         893,672        1,124,950   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

     400,521         153,587 (c)       N/A   

VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund

     116,514         168,437        448,932   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

     54,857         58,154        113,902   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

     292,890         328,698        339,024   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

     342,064         269,913        431,546   

VP – MFS Value Fund

     374,146         432,122        423,186   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

     718,652         706,739        1,099,423   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

     1,103,028         928,328        695,827   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

     0         0        0   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

     0         0        0   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

     0         0        0   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

     79,610         81,612        107,184   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

     415,840         420,000        296,794   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

     782,548         1,163,079        908,741   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

     1,238,530         1,160,512        1,063,766   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

     732,055         959,931        961,677   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

     2,308,780         1,654,607        1,712,803   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

     2,228,245         1,745,815        1,698,582   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

     630         3,243        5,225   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

     207,844         568,572        21,304   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     75,487         40,857        79,545   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

     179,825         182,409        179,470   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

     498,094         748,554        366,732   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

     0         0        82   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

     0         22,750        18,375   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

     914,783         1,403,276        1,383,150   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

     93         0        0   

 

(a) For the period from April 11, 2013 (when the fund became publicly available) to Dec. 31, 2013.
(b) For the period from April 30, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.
(c) For the period from April 19, 2012 (when the fund became available) to Dec. 31, 2012.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 151   


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Brokerage Commissions Paid to Brokers Affiliated with the Investment Manager

Affiliates of the investment manager may engage in brokerage and other securities transactions on behalf of a fund according to procedures adopted by the Board and to the extent consistent with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. Subject to approval by the Board, the same conditions apply to transactions with broker-dealer affiliates of any subadviser. The investment manager will use an affiliate only if (i) the investment manager determines that the fund will receive prices and executions at least as favorable as those offered by qualified independent brokers performing similar brokerage and other services for the fund and (ii) the affiliate charges the fund commission rates consistent with those the affiliate charges comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions and if such use is consistent with terms of the Investment Management Services Agreement.

No brokerage commissions were paid for a Fund in the last three fiscal periods to brokers affiliated with the Funds’ Investment Manager or any subadvisers, unless otherwise shown in the following table.

 

    Broker   Nature of
Affiliation
  Aggregate
dollar
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
    Percent of
aggregate
brokerage
commissions
    Percent of
aggregate
dollar
amount of
transactions
involving
payment of
commissions
    Aggregate
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
    Aggregate
amount of
commissions
paid to
broker
 
Fund               2013                     2012     2011  

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  Merrill Lynch
Pierce Fenner &
Smith (MLPFS)
  (1)   $ 658        0.06     0.05   $ 0      $ 0   

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

  MLPFS   (1)   $ 2,942        2.52     0.04   $ 3,002      $ 5,619   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  MLPFS   (1)   $ 1,171        2.14     0.04   $ 906      $ 2,690   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  MLPFS   (1)   $ 6,150        2.10     0.04   $ 5,204      $ 9,360   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  MLPFS   (1)   $ 17,575        5.14     0.08   $ 11,505      $ 15,108   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  MLPFS   (1)   $ 0        N/A        N/A      $ 0      $ 353   

 

  (1) Prior to May 1, 2010, MLPF&S and other broker-dealers affiliated with BANA were affiliated broker-dealers of the series of CFST by virtue of being under common control with the Previous Adviser. The affiliation created by this relationship ended on May 1, 2010, when the investment advisory agreement with the Previous Adviser was terminated and the Fund entered into a new investment management services agreement with the Investment Manager. However, BANA, on behalf of its fiduciary accounts, continues to have investments in certain of the Columbia Funds. The amounts shown include any brokerage commissions paid to MLPF&S after May 1, 2010.

Directed Brokerage

The Funds or the Investment Manager, through an agreement or understanding with a broker-dealer, or otherwise through an internal allocation procedure, may direct, subject to applicable legal requirements, the Funds’ brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer because of the research services it provides the Funds or the Investment Manager.

During each Fund’s most recent applicable fiscal year (or period), the Funds directed certain brokerage transactions and paid related commissions in the amounts as follows:

Brokerage Directed for Research

 

      Brokerage Directed for Research  
      Amount of
Transactions
     Amount of
Commissions
Imputed or Paid
 
Fund   2013      2013  

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  $ 0       $ 0   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – Balanced Fund

    655,020,344         307,992   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

    0         0   

 

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Table of Contents
      Brokerage Directed for Research  
      Amount of
Transactions
     Amount of
Commissions
Imputed or Paid
 
Fund   2013      2013  

VP – Cash Management Fund

  $ 0       $ 0   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

    24,698,493         15,765   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

    148,251,123         93,019   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund (a)

    0         0   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

    0         0   

VP – Core Equity Fund

    107,204,339         57,216   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

    860,612,058         94,426   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

    1,242,183,963         1,002,443   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

    0         0   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

    80,721,605         102,248   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – Global Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

    1,702,580,834         218,480   

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

    0         0   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

    579,100,816         739,525   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

    0         0   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

    158,866,238         113,958   

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

    993,463,375         512,566   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

    913,030,668         484,472   

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

    0         0   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

    0         0   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

    552,221,563         147,528   

VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund

    178,036,029         45,787   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

    71,548,427         16,423   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

    350,292,778         84,809   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

    222,500,081         149,253   

VP – MFS Value Fund

    732,571,597         360,317   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

    168,934,322         89,012   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

    346,286,603         321,856   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

    0         0   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

    0         0   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

    0         0   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

    0         0   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

    330,036,261         234,164   

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

    1,338,844,895         141,472   

 

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Table of Contents
      Brokerage Directed for Research  
      Amount of
Transactions
     Amount of
Commissions
Imputed or Paid
 
Fund   2013      2013  

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

  $ 148,829,223       $ 96,018   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

    139,704,044         21,529   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

    513,025,947         579,511   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

    1,622,884,426         2,021,780   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

    0         0   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

    46,928,612         43,875   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

    834,687         1,922   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

    9,812,350         11,843   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

    187,717,301         114,504   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

    0         0   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

    0         0   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

    786,672,217         587,007   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

    0         0   

 

(a) For the period from April 11, 2013 (when the fund became publicly available) to Dec. 31, 2013.

Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers

In certain cases, the Funds, as part of their principal investment strategies, or otherwise as a permissible investment, will invest in the common stock or debt obligations of the regular broker-dealers that the Investment Manager uses to transact brokerage for the Funds.

As of each Fund’s most recent applicable fiscal year (or period) end, the Funds owned securities of their “regular brokers or dealers” or their parents, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, as shown in the table below:

Securities of Regular Brokers or Dealers

 

Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 

VP – Aggressive Portfolio

  None      N/A   

VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

  Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust      1,603,835   
  Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities      155,846   
  Chase Corp.      738,868   
  Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.      3,900,719   
  Citigroup, Inc.      24,462,578   
  Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust      3,962,091   
  Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.      2,123,627   
  Credit Suisse Group      3,105,999   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      26,357,416   
  GS Mortgage Securities      4,489,591   
  GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II      24,556,620   
  Jefferies & Co., Inc.      1,405,625   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      17,589,607   
  JPMorgan Chase Bank      4,735,810   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 154   


Table of Contents
Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      4,939,128   
  JPMorgan Mortgage Trust      11,939,105   
  LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      24,901,867   
  Morgan Stanley      21,365,037   
  Morgan Stanley Capital I      24,055,005   
  PNC Bank NA      4,772,692   
    PNC Funding Corp.      682,720   

VP – Balanced Fund

  Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust      845,578   
  Citigroup, Inc.      22,824,320   
  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      25,770   
  Goldman Sachs Group      1,352,956   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      19,144,598   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      3,829,708   
  LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      717,448   
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.      638,479   
  Morgan Stanley      3,237,102   
  Morgan Stanley Capital I      497,707   
  Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust      1,447,667   
  Nuveen Investments, Inc.      81,610   
  PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      994,196   
    The Bear Stearns Companies LLC      1,796,056   

VP – BlackRock Global Inflation Protected Securities Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Cash Management Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

  Eaton Vance Corp.      5,134,800   

VP – Commodity Strategy Fund (a)

  None      N/A   

VP – Conservative Portfolio

  None      N/A   

VP – Core Equity Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      2,589,867   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      3,438,844   
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.      6,029,288   

VP – DFA International Value Fund

  Credit Suisse Group AG      15,655,974   

VP – Diversified Bond Fund

  Citigroup Capital XIII      29,022,613   
  Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust      4,838,891   
  Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.      14,040,923   
  Citigroup, Inc.      20,926,477   
  Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust      15,158,730   
  Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust      4,804,881   
  Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates      14,304,789   
  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      364,001   
  GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II      6,959,555   
  GS Mortgage Securities Trust      3,530,753   
  Jefferies & Co., Inc.      752,216   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      13,387,156   

 

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Table of Contents
Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 
  JPMorgan Chase Capital XXI      14,249,440   
  JPMorgan Chase Capital XXIII      6,436,800   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      3,560,586   
  JPMorgan Mortgage Aquistion Corp      5,739   
  LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      34,736,600   
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.      4,546,305   
  Morgan Stanley Capital I, Inc.      13,937,577   
  Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust      37,493,508   
  Nuveen Investments, Inc.      762,209   
    PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      27,946,888   

VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund

  Goldman Sachs Group      97,917,374   
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.      114,206,586   

VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

  Nuveen Investments, Inc.      7,787,518   

VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

  Morgan Stanley      805,346   

VP – Emerging Markets Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Global Bond Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      3,006,082   
  Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust      1,428,237   
  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      208,308   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      1,831,494   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp.      2,137,749   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      1,694,736   
  Morgan Stanley      3,866,108   
    Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust      2,907,353   

VP – High Yield Bond Fund

  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      1,673,976   
    Nuveen Investments, Inc.      4,465,223   

VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

  TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.      15,762,748   

VP – Income Opportunities Fund

  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      3,563,776   

VP – International Opportunity Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Invesco International Growth Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

  Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage, Inc.      3,682,269   
  Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust      170,456   
  Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust      1,707,428   
  Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities Trust      723,352   
  Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities      1,099,511   
  Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust      3,065,080   
  Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.      16,235,277   
  Citigroup, Inc.      14,880,150   
  Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust      2,991,273   
  Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.      6,009,708   
  Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates      15,880,822   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      13,835,640   
  GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II      4,163,573   

 

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Table of Contents
Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 
  Jefferies Group, Inc. (subsidiary)      2,666,542   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      5,041,366   
  JPMorgan Mortgage Trust      2,547,145   
  JPMorgan Resecuritation Trust      809,416   
  LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      1,794,203   
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.      7,708,399   
  Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust      1,413,310   
  Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc.      1,055,940   
  Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust      1,071,690   
  Merrill Lynch/Countrywide Commercial Mortgage Trust      903,499   
  Morgan Stanley      11,908,906   
  Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust      1,361,482   
  Morgan Stanley Capital I      3,095,641   
  Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust      811,040   
  Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust      10,530,749   
  PNC Bank NA      1,182,346   
  PNC Funding Corp.      2,035,440   
    The Charles Schwab Corp.      312,802   

VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

  Eaton Vance Corp.      9,547,690   

VP – Large Cap Growth Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      17,697,129   

VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      24,543,810   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      31,835,896   
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.      55,778,224   

VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

  Franklin Resources, Inc.      12,379,679   

VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      338,670   
  Goldman Sachs Group      394,926   
    Morgan Stanley      97,306   

VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      4,033,627   
    Morgan Stanley      1,977,468   

VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      824,332   

VP – Marsico Growth Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      11,979,724   

VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – MFS Value Fund

  Franklin Resources, Inc.      21,754,223   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      48,969,848   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      94,416,135   
    PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      15,531,749   

VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

  Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.      11,795,453   

VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

  Raymond James & Associates      12,462,972   

VP – Moderate Portfolio

  None      N/A   

VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

  None      N/A   

VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

  None      N/A   

VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

  None      N/A   

 

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Table of Contents
Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 

VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      51,526,368   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      80,772,576   
    PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      51,776,892   

VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      13,152,152   
  Morgan Stanley      18,947,712   
    The Charles Schwab Corp.      9,573,200   

VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

  Eaton Vance Corp.      10,005,329   

VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

  Primerica, Inc.      8,264,466   
    Stifel Financial Corp.      1,103,598   

VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund

  Credit Suisse Group AG      10,842,675   
    None      N/A   

VP – S&P 500 Index Fund

  Ameriprise Financial, Inc.      358,381   
  Charles Schwab      481,884   
  Citigroup, Inc.      2,524,417   
  E*TRADE Financial Corp.      90,265   
  Franklin Resources, Inc.      372,647   
  Goldman Sachs Group      1,193,669   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      3,511,256   
  Legg Mason, Inc. (subsidiary)      73,394   
  Morgan Stanley      693,965   
    PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.      659,896   

VP – Select Large Cap Growth Fund

  Franklin Resources, Inc.      2,503,288   

VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

  Citigroup, Inc.      30,744,900   
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.      33,918,400   
    Morgan Stanley      31,999,744   

VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

  Franklin Resources, Inc.      15,148,352   
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)      17,247,398   
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.      34,146,472   

VP – Small Cap Value Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

  Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.      1,405,559   
    JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      8,402,125   

VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

  Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities      176,745   
  Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust      110,567   
  Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.      40,473,100   
  Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates      67,684,456   
  GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II      5,987,662   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      188,845   
  Morgan Stanley Re-Remic Trust      27,172,494   
    Morgan Stanley Resecuritization Trust      6,660,203   

VP – Victory Established Value Fund

  None      N/A   

VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

  Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.      4,214,721   
  GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II      18,418,697   

 

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Table of Contents
Fund   Issuer    Value of securities owned at
end of period
 
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities      2,415,668   
  JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      1,575,256   
  LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      5,645,934   
    Morgan Stanley Capital I      2,651,093   

 

(a) For the period from April 11, 2013 (when the fund became publicly available) to Dec. 31, 2013.

OTHER PRACTICES

Performance Information

Effective beginning with performance reporting for the December 31, 2011 year-end, in presenting performance information for newer share classes, if any, of a fund, the fund typically includes, for periods prior to the offering of such share classes, the performance of the fund’s oldest share class (except as otherwise disclosed), adjusted to reflect any higher class-related operating expenses of the newer share classes, as applicable, based on the expense ratios of those share classes for the fund’s most recently completed fiscal year for which data was available at December 31, 2011 or, for funds and classes first offered after January 1, 2012, the expected expense differential at the time the newer share class is first offered. Actual expense differentials across classes will vary over time. The performance of the fund’s newer share classes would have been substantially similar to the performance of the fund’s oldest share class because all share classes of a fund are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and would have differed only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses (although differences in expenses between share classes may change over time).

Portfolio Turnover

A change in the securities held by a Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Such sales may also result in adverse tax consequences to a Fund’s shareholders. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect a Fund’s performance. For each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate, see the Fees and Expenses of the Fund – Portfolio Turnover section in the prospectuses for that Fund.

In any particular year, market conditions may result in greater rates than are presently anticipated. The rate of a Fund’s turnover may vary significantly from time to time depending on the volatility of economic and market conditions.

See below for an explanation for any significant variation in a Fund’s portfolio turnover rates over the two most recently completed fiscal years or explanation of a high turnover rate in the current fiscal year, if applicable:

The high portfolio turnover rate for VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund for the two most recently completed fiscal year ends is due to the inclusion of forward contracts in the “to be announced” (TBA) market by the Fund’s former subadviser.

For VP – Victory Established Value Fund, the higher portfolio turnover rate in 2012 was largely due to the changes made to the portfolio as a result of a change in Fund subadvisers.

The high portfolio turnover rate for VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund for the most recently completed fiscal year is due to increased investment in treasury futures and mortgage-backed securities transactions in the “to be announced” (TBA) market in order to manage duration and mortgage-backed securities exposure.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information

The Board and the Investment Manager believe that the investment ideas of the Investment Manager and any subadviser with respect to portfolio management of a Fund should benefit the Fund and its shareholders, and do not want to afford speculators an opportunity to profit by anticipating Fund trading strategies or by using Fund portfolio holdings information for stock picking. However, the Board also believes that knowledge of a Fund’s portfolio holdings can assist shareholders in monitoring their investments, making asset allocation decisions, and evaluating portfolio management techniques.

The Board has therefore adopted policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities. These policies and procedures are intended to protect the confidentiality of Fund portfolio holdings information and generally

 

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prohibit the release of such information until such information is made available to the general public, unless such persons have been authorized to receive such information on a selective basis, as described below. It is the policy of the Fund not to provide or permit others to provide portfolio holdings on a selective basis, and the Investment Manager does not intend to selectively disclose portfolio holdings or expect that such holdings information will be selectively disclosed, except where necessary for the Fund’s operation or where there are other legitimate business purposes for doing so and, in any case, where conditions are met that are designed to protect the interests of the Funds and their shareholders.

Although the Investment Manager seeks to limit the selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information and such selective disclosure is monitored under the Fund’s compliance program for conformity with the policies and procedures, there can be no assurance that these policies will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information. Under no circumstances may the Investment Manager, its affiliates or any employee thereof receive any consideration or compensation for disclosing such holdings information.

Public Disclosures

The Funds’ portfolio holdings are currently disclosed to the public through filings with the SEC and postings on the Funds’ website. The information is available on the Funds’ website as described below.

 

   

For equity, convertible, alternative and flexible Funds (other than the equity Funds identified below), a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 15 calendar days after such month-end.

 

   

For Funds that are subadvised by Marsico Capital, Columbia Small Cap Growth Fund I and VP – Small Company Growth Fund, a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 30 calendar days after such month-end.

 

   

For fixed-income Funds, a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of calendar quarter-end is posted approximately, but no earlier than, 30 calendar days after such quarter-end.

 

   

For money market Funds, a complete list of Fund portfolio holdings as of month-end is posted no later than five business days after such month-end. Such month-end holdings are continuously available on the website for at least six months, together with a link to an SEC webpage where a user of the website may obtain access to the Fund’s most recent 12 months of publicly available filings on Form N-MFP. Money market Fund portfolio holdings information posted on the website, at minimum, includes with respect to each holding, the name of the issuer, the category of investment (e.g., Treasury debt, government agency debt, asset backed commercial paper, structured investment vehicle note), the CUSIP number (if any), the principal amount, the maturity date (as determined under Rule 2a-7 for purposes of calculating weighted average maturity), the final maturity date (if different from the maturity date previously described), coupon or yield and the amortized cost value. The money market Funds will also disclose on the website the overall weighted average maturity and weighted average life maturity of a holding.

Portfolio holdings of Funds owned solely by affiliates of the Investment Manager are not disclosed on the website. A complete schedule of each Fund’s portfolio holdings is available semiannually and annually in shareholder reports filed on Form N-CSR and, after the first and third fiscal quarters, in regulatory filings on Form N-Q. These shareholder reports and regulatory filings are filed with the SEC in accordance with federal securities laws. Shareholders may obtain each Columbia Fund’s Form N-CSR and N-Q filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, each Columbia Fund’s Form N-CSR and N-Q filings may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 202.551.8090 for information about the SEC’s website or the operation of the public reference room.

In addition, the Investment Manager makes publicly available information regarding certain Fund’s largest five to fifteen holdings, as a percentage of the market value of the Funds’ portfolios as of a month-end. This holdings information is made publicly available approximately 15 calendar days following the month-end. The scope of the information that is made available on the Funds’ websites pursuant to the Funds’ policies may change from time to time without prior notice. This information may not be available on the website for all Funds included in this SAI.

The Investment Manager may also disclose more current portfolio holdings information as of specified dates on the Columbia Funds’ website.

The Columbia Funds, the Investment Manager and their affiliates may include portfolio holdings information that already has been made public through a website posting or SEC filing in marketing literature and other communications to shareholders, advisors or other parties, provided that the information is disclosed no earlier than when the information is disclosed publicly on the funds’ website or no earlier than the time a fund files such information in a publicly available SEC filing required to include such information.

 

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Other Disclosures

The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that no disclosures of the Funds’ portfolio holdings may be made prior to the portfolio holdings information being made available to the general public unless (i) the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for making such disclosure, (ii) the Funds or their authorized agents authorize such non-public disclosure of information, and (iii) the party receiving the non-public information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement or is otherwise subject to a confidentiality obligation.

In determining the existence of a legitimate business purpose for making portfolio disclosures, the following factors, among others, are considered: (i) any prior disclosure must be consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the fiduciary duties of the Investment Manager; (ii) any conflicts of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Manager, the Funds’ Distributor or any affiliated person of a Fund, the Investment Manager or Distributor on the other; and (iii) any prior disclosure to a third party, although subject to a confidentiality agreement, would not make conduct lawful that is otherwise unlawful.

In addition, the Funds periodically disclose their portfolio information on a confidential basis to various service providers that require such information to assist the Funds with their day-to-day business affairs. These service providers include each Fund’s sub-adviser(s) (if any) and vendors or other entities each subadviser may also hire to perform services for the funds, affiliates of the Investment Manager, the Funds’ custodian, subcustodians, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, operational system vendors, financial printers, proxy solicitor and proxy voting service provider, as well as ratings agencies that maintain ratings on certain Funds. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Funds. The Funds also may disclose portfolio holdings information to broker/dealers and certain other entities in connection with potential transactions and management of the Funds, provided that reasonable precautions, including limitations on the scope of the portfolio holdings information disclosed, are taken to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed information. Certain Columbia Funds (Investing Funds) managed by the Investment Manager invest in other Columbia Funds (Underlying Funds). The portfolio managers of these Investing Funds may have access to non-public portfolio holdings information of the Underlying Funds.

The Funds also disclose portfolio holdings information as required by federal, state or international securities laws, and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities, or in connection with litigation or potential litigation, a restructuring of a holding, where such disclosure is necessary to participate or explore participation in a restructuring of the holding (e.g., as part of a bondholder group), or to the issuer of a holding, pursuant to a request of the issuer or any other party who is duly authorized by the issuer.

The Board has adopted policies to ensure that the Fund’s portfolio holdings information is only disclosed in accordance with these policies. Before any selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information is permitted, the person seeking to disclose such holdings information must submit a written request to the Portfolio Holdings Committee (“PHC”). The PHC is comprised of members from the Investment Manager’s legal department, compliance department, the Funds’ President, and the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer. The PHC is authorized by the Board to perform an initial review of requests for disclosure of holdings information to evaluate whether there is a legitimate business purpose for selective disclosure, whether selective disclosure is in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders, to consider any potential conflicts of interest between the Fund, the Investment Manager, and its affiliates, and to safeguard against improper use of holdings information. Factors considered in this analysis are whether the recipient has agreed to or has a duty to keep the holdings information confidential and whether risks have been mitigated such that the recipient has agreed or has a duty to use the holdings information only as necessary to effectuate the purpose for which selective disclosure may be authorized, including a duty not to trade on such information. Before portfolio holdings may be selectively disclosed, requests approved by the PHC must also be authorized by the Funds’ President, Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer or their respective designees. On at least an annual basis, the PHC reviews the approved recipients of selective disclosure and may require a resubmission of the request, in order to re-authorize certain ongoing arrangements. These procedures are intended to be reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality of Fund holdings information and to prohibit their release to individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries that distribute the Fund’s shares, and other parties, until such holdings information is made public or unless such persons have been authorized to receive such holdings information on a selective basis, as set forth above.

Ongoing Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Arrangements:

The Funds currently have ongoing arrangements with certain approved recipients with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information prior to such information being made public. Portfolio holdings information disclosed to such recipients is current as of the time of its disclosure, is disclosed to each recipient solely for purposes consistent with the services described below and has been authorized in accordance with the policy. No compensation or consideration is received in

 

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exchange for this information. In addition to the daily information provided to a Fund’s custodians, subcustodians, Administrator, Investment Manager and subadvisers, the following disclosure arrangements are in place:

 

Identity of Recipient    Conditions/restrictions on use of information    Frequency of
Disclosure
Recipients under arrangements with the Funds or Investment Manager:
BarraOne / MSCI Barra    Used for risk analysis and reporting.    Daily
Barclays Capital    Used for analytics including risk and attribution assessment.    Daily
BlackRock Aladdin    Used for fixed income trading and decision support.    Daily
Bloomberg    Used for portfolio analytics and independent research.    Daily or Monthly
Capital Markets Services (“CMS”)    Used for intraday post-trade information when equity exposures (either via futures or options trades) are modified beyond certain limits for the Columbia Variable Portfolio Managed Volatility funds.    As Needed
Catapult (formerly Reflections)    Used to provide Edgar filing and typesetting services, as well as printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.    As Needed
Cenveo, Inc.    Used for printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.    As Needed
Citigroup    Used in resolving technical difficulties with an analytic software program.    Daily
Cogent Consulting LLC    Used to facilitate the evaluation of commission rates and to provide flexible commission reporting.    Daily
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.    Used for provision of quantitative analytics, charting, and fundamental data.    Daily
Harte-Hanks    Used for printing of prospectuses, factsheets, and annual and semi-annual reports.    As Needed
Index Universe    Used to cover product and market developments related to index funds, ETFs, index derivatives, and other sophisticated investment strategies.    Monthly
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”)    Used for proxy voting administration and research on proxy matters.    Daily
Investment Technology Group    Used to evaluate and assess trading activity, execution and practices.    Quarterly
Intex    Used to provide mortgage analytics.    Periodic
Investor Tool’s Perform    Used for municiple securities decision support.    Daily
JDP Marketing Services    Used to write or edit Columbia Fund shareholder reports, quarterly fund commentaries, and communications, including shareholder letters and management’s discussion of Columbia Fund performance.    Monthly, as needed
Kynex    Used to provide portfolio attribution reports for the Columbia Convertible Securities Fund.    Daily
Linedata Services, Inc.    Used to assist in resolving technical difficulties with LongView trade order management system software.    As Needed
Lipper / Thomson Reuters    Used to assure accuracy of Lipper Fact Sheets.    Monthly
Malaspina Communications    Used to facilitate writing management’s discussion of Columbia Fund performance for Columbia Fund shareholder reports and periodic marketing communications.    Quarterly
Markit/Wall Street Office    Used for bank loan asset servicing.    Daily
Merrill Corporation    Used to provide Edgar filing and typesetting services, as well as printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.    As Needed
MoneyMate    Used to report returns and analytics to client facing materials.    Monthly
Morningstar    Used for independent research and ranking of funds, and to fulfill role as investment consultant for fund of funds product.    Monthly or As Needed
Print Craft    Used to assemble kits and mailing that include the fact sheets.    As Needed
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company    Used to provide Edgar filing and typesetting services, and printing of prospectuses, factsheets, annual and semi-annual reports.    As Needed
Sungard Invest One    Used as portfolio accounting system.    Daily
Threadneedle Investments    Used by portfolio managers and research analysts in supporting certain management strategies, and by shared support partners (legal, operations, compliance, risk, etc.) to provide Fund maintenance and development.    As Needed
Universal Wilde    Used to provide printing and mailing services for prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, and supplements.    As Needed
Wilshire Associates, Inc.    An equity analytics tool used to provide daily performance attribution reporting based on daily holdings to the investment and investment analytics teams.    Daily
Identity of Recipient    Conditions/restrictions on use of information    Frequency of
Disclosure
Recipients under arrangements with Subadvisers:
Abel Noser    Used by certain subadvisers for trade execution analysis.    Quarterly
Advent    Used by certain subadvisers for corporate actions and portfolio accounting.    Daily
Barclays Capital    Used by certain subadvisers to obtain analytical information.    Daily
Barra    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio evaluation or analysis.    Daily
BarraOne    Used by certain subadvisers for risk analysis and reporting.    Daily
Bloomberg    Used by certain subadvisers for trade order management and system support, portfolio and risk analytics, research reports, anaylitcal information, market data, portfolio analysis, and/or execution evaluation.    Daily or Quarterly
Cabot Research LLC    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio analysis.    Daily
Capital IQ    Used by certain subadvisers for market data.    Daily

 

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Identity of Recipient    Conditions/restrictions on use of information    Frequency of
Disclosure
Charles River    Used by certain subadvisers for order management.    Daily
CitiDirect (FSR)    Used by certain subadvisers for reporting position and account information.    Daily
Citigroup    Used by certain subadvisers for middle-ofice operational services.    Daily
Cogent Consulting LLC    Used by certain subadvisers for commission rate evaluation and reporting.    Daily
Compliance 11    Used by certain subadvisers for compliance automation.    Daily
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP    Used by certain subadvisers for independent trustees’ legal counsel.    As Needed
Electra    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio reconciliation.    As Needed
Eze Castle Software, Inc.    Used by certain subadvisers for trade order management.    Daily
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.    Used by certain subadvsiers for analytical and statistical information, portfolio analytics and attribution.    Daily
Financial Tracking Technologies LLC    Used by certain subadvisers for compliance monitoring.    Daily
Fluent    Used by certain subadvisers for printing client reporting.    Monthly
Glass Lewis    Used by certain subadvisers for proxy voting administration and research on proxy matters.    As Needed or Daily
Global Trading Analytics, LLC    Used by certain subadvisers for transaction cost analysis of currency trading.    Daily
GSAL    Used by certain subadvisers for securities lending agent.    As Needed
IDS GmbH    Used by certain subadvisers for analysis and reporting.    Daily
ING Insurance Company    Used by certain subadvisers to provide quarterly fact sheets.    Quarterly
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”)    Used by certain subadvisers for proxy voting administration and research on proxy matters.    Weekly or As Needed
Interactive Data Corp. (IDC)    Used by certain subadvisers for statistical fair valuation services.    As Needed
Investment Technology Group    Used by certain subadvisers to evaluate trade execution and compliance purposes.    As Needed or Daily
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA    Used by certain subadvisers for back office and shadow accounting functions.    Daily
Merrill Corporation    Used by certain subadvisers for prospectus, SAI, supplement and sales material printing services.    Quarterly
Moneymate    Used by certain subadvisers to report returns and analytics to client facing materials.    Daily
Omgeo, LLC    Used by certain subadvisers for trade settlement or trade order management.    Daily
Perkins Cole LLP    Used by certain subadvisers for funds’ legal counsel.    As Needed
Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP    Used by certain subadvisers for funds’ independent registered public accounting firm.    As Needed
Quantitative Services Group    Used by certain subadvisers for trade execution analysis.    Daily
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company    Used by certain subadvisers for prospectus, SAI, supplement and sales material printer.    As Needed
RiskMetrics    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio analysis.    Daily
SS&C Technology Holdings    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio accounting purposes.    Daily
State Street Bank and Trust Company    Used by certain subadvisers for investment operations.    Daily
Sungard Invest One    Used as portfolio accounting system.    Daily
SunGard Portfolio Solutions, Inc.    used by certain subadvisers for portfolio accounting purposes.    Daily
Tamale    Used by certain subadvisers for research management.    Daily
Thomson Reuters    Used by certain subadvisers for portfolio analysis.    Daily
TriOptima    Used by certain subadvisers for derivatives reconciliation.    Daily
Wilshire Associates    Used by certain subadvisers to support performance analysis software and portfolio analysis.    Daily

In addition, portfolio holdings information may be provided from time to time to the Funds’ counsel, counsel to the independent trustees and the Funds’ independent auditors in connection with the services they provide to the Fund or the trustees. Portfolio holdings information may also be provided to affiliates of the Investment Manager to monitor risks and various holdings limitations that must be aggregated with affiliated funds and accounts, among other purposes. The Investment Manager and the subadvisers use a variety of broker-dealers and other agents to effect securities transactions on behalf of the Funds. These broker-dealers may become aware of the Funds’ intentions, transactions and positions in performing their functions.

ADDITIONAL SELLING AGENT PAYMENTS

Additional Financial Intermediary Payments

Life insurance companies that issue the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies through separate accounts for which the funds serve as underlying investment vehicles, retirement plan, sponsors, banks, broker-dealers and financial advisors as well as firms that employ such broker-dealers and financial advisors, including, for example, brokerage firms, banks, investment advisers, third party administrators and other financial intermediaries, including Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates (Selling Agents) may receive different commissions, sales charge reallowances and other payments with respect to sales of different classes of shares of the funds.

The distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may pay additional compensation to selected financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, under the categories described below. These categories are not mutually exclusive, and a single Selling Agent may receive payments under all categories. These payments may create an incentive for a Selling Agent or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of a fund to its customers. The amount of payments made to financial intermediaries may vary. In determining the amount of payments to be made, the distributor and

 

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other Ameriprise Financial affiliates may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, asset mix and length of relationship with the Selling Agent, the size of the customer/shareholder base of the Selling Agent, the manner in which customers of the Selling Agent make investments in the funds, the nature and scope of marketing support or services provided by the Selling Agent (as described more fully below) and the costs incurred by the Selling Agent in connection with maintaining the infrastructure necessary or desirable to support investments in the funds.

These additional payments by the distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates are made pursuant to agreements between the distributor and other Ameriprise Financial affiliates and financial intermediaries, and do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a share, the amount a fund will receive as proceeds from such sales or the distribution fees and expenses paid by the fund as shown under the heading Fees and Expenses of the Fund in the fund’s prospectuses.

Marketing Support Payments

The distributor and the investment manager may make payments, from their own resources, to certain financial intermediaries, including other Ameriprise Financial affiliates, for marketing support services relating to the Fund Family (Funds), including, but not limited to, business planning assistance, educating Selling Agent personnel about the funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the Selling Agent’s preferred or recommended fund list or otherwise identifying the funds as being part of a complex to be accorded a higher degree of marketing support than complexes not making such payments, access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the Selling Agent, client servicing and systems infrastructure support. These payments are generally based upon one or more of the following factors: average net assets of the Funds distributed by the distributor attributable to that Selling Agent, gross sales of the Funds distributed by the distributor attributable to that Selling Agent, reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a Selling Agent firm charges its representatives for effecting transactions in fund shares) or a negotiated lump sum payment.

While the financial arrangements vary for each Selling Agent, the marketing support payments to each Selling Agent generally are expected to be between 0.05% and 0.50% on an annual basis for payments based on average net assets of the funds attributable to the Selling Agent, and between 0.05% and 0.25% on an annual basis for a Selling Agent receiving a payment based on gross sales of the funds attributable to that intermediary. The distributor and the investment manager may make payments in materially larger amounts or on a basis materially different from those described above when dealing with certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates of Bank of America Corporation. Such increased payments to a Selling Agent may enable the Selling Agent to offset credits that it may provide to customers.

As of April 2013, the Distributor, the Investment Manager or their affiliates had agreed to make marketing support payments with respect to the funds to the financial intermediaries or their affiliates shown below.

 

 

Allianz Life Insurance Company of America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of NY

 

 

American United Life

 

 

Equitrust Life Insurance

 

 

First Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company

 

 

Genworth Life & Annuity Insurance

 

 

Genworth Life Insurance Company of New York

 

 

Great West Life & Annuity Company

 

 

Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company

 

 

Independence Life & Annuity Co

 

 

ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company

 

 

Jefferson National Life Insurance Company

 

 

Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston

 

 

Midland National Life Insurance Company

 

 

Monumental Life Insurance Company

 

 

National Integrity Life Insurance Company

 

 

New York Life Insurance & Annuity Corporation

 

 

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

 

 

RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Company of NY

 

 

Security Benefit Life Insurance

 

 

SunAmerica Annuity & Life Assurance Company

 

 

Sun Life Assurance Co of Canada

 

 

Sun Life Insurance & Annuity Co of NY

 

 

Symetra Life Insurance Co

 

 

Transamerica Financial

 

 

Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company and Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company of New York

 

 

The Union Central Life Insurance Company

 

 

The distributor and/or the investment manager may enter into similar arrangements with other financial intermediaries from time to time. Therefore, the preceding list is subject to change at any time without notice.

 

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Other Payments

From time to time, the distributor, from its own resources, may provide additional compensation to certain financial intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the funds to the extent not prohibited by laws or the rules of any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Such compensation provided by the distributor may include financial assistance to financial intermediaries that enable the distributor to participate in and/or present at financial intermediary-sponsored conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other financial intermediary employees, financial intermediary entertainment and other financial intermediary-sponsored events, and travel expenses, including lodging incurred by registered representatives and other employees in connection with prospecting, retention and due diligence trips. The distributor makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to the distributor’s internal guidelines and applicable law. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event.

Your financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this SAI. You should consult with your financial intermediary and review carefully any disclosure your financial intermediary provides regarding its services and compensation. Depending on the financial arrangement in place at any particular time, a financial intermediary and its financial consultants may have a conflict of interest or financial incentive for recommending a particular fund or a particular share class over other funds or share classes. Employees of Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, including employees of affiliated broker-dealers and insurance companies, may be separately incented to include shares of the funds in Contracts offered by affiliated insurance companies, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are generally tied to the success of Ameriprise Financial. Certain employees, directly or indirectly, may receive higher compensation and other benefits as investment in the funds increases. In addition, management, sales leaders and other employees may spend more of their time and resources promoting Ameriprise Financial and its subsidiary companies, including the distributor and the investment manager, and the products they offer, including the funds.

CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

Description of the Trusts’ Shares

The Trusts may issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of each Fund, without par value, and to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that Fund without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in that Fund and to divide such shares into classes. Most of the Funds are authorized to issue multiple classes of shares. Such classes are designated as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Each share of a class of a Fund represents an equal proportional interest in that Fund with each other share in the same class and is entitled to such distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to that Fund as are declared in the discretion of the Board. However, different share classes of a Fund pay different distribution amounts because each share class has different expenses. Each time a distribution is made, the net asset value per share of the share class is reduced by the amount of the distribution.

Subject to certain limited exceptions discussed in each Fund’s prospectuses and in this SAI, a Fund may no longer be accepting new investments from current shareholders or prospective investors in general or with respect to one or more classes of shares. The Funds, however, may at any time and without notice, accept new investments in general or with respect to one or more previously closed classes of shares. If investors other than Participating Insurance Companies, Separate Accounts, Qualified Plans or certain other eligible investors were to purchase shares in a Fund, VA contracts or VLI policies funded by that Fund could lose their favorable tax status. See “Taxation” below.

Restrictions on Holding or Disposing of Shares

There are no restrictions on the right of shareholders to retain or dispose of the Funds’ shares, other than the possible future termination of the Funds or the relevant class, except that the Funds may redeem Fund shares of shareholders holding less than any minimum or more than any maximum investment from time to time established by the Board. The Funds may be terminated by reorganization into another mutual fund or by liquidation and distribution of their assets. Unless terminated by reorganization or liquidation, the Funds and classes will continue indefinitely.

Liability

CFVITI. CFVITI is organized under Delaware law, which provides that shareholders of a statutory trust are entitled to the same limitations of personal liability as shareholders of a corporation organized under Delaware law. Effectively, this means that a shareholder of the series of CFVITI will not be personally liable for payment of the Funds’ debts except by reason of his or her own conduct or acts. In addition, a shareholder could incur a financial loss on account of the Funds’ obligation only if the Funds had no remaining assets with which to meet such obligation. We believe that the possibility of such a situation arising is extremely remote.

 

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CFVSTII. CFVSTII is organized as a business trust under Massachusetts law. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligation. However, the Declaration of Trust that establishes a trust, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto (the “Declaration of Trust”), is on file with the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust, or of any series in the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that, if any shareholder (or former shareholder) of a series of the Trust is held to be personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of such shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives thereof, or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of the Fund (or attributable to the class) of which such shareholder or former shareholder is or was the holder of shares to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.

The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust may maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bond and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents or service providers covering claims and liabilities. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust itself was unable to meet its obligations.

The Declaration of Trust further provides that obligations of the Trust are not binding upon the Trustees individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and that Trustees are not liable for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and are not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.

The Trustees may fill any vacancies on the Board except that the Trustees may not fill a vacancy if, immediately after filling such vacancy, less than two-thirds of the Trustees then in office would have been elected to such office by the shareholders. In addition, at such times as less than a majority of the Trustees then in office have been elected to such office by the shareholders, the Trustees must call a meeting of shareholders. Trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares at a meeting duly called for the purpose. Except as otherwise disclosed in a Fund’s prospectuses and this SAI, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint their successors.

By becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be expressly held to have assented to and agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Declaration of Trust.

Dividend Rights

The shareholders of a Fund are entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions declared for the Fund. No shares have priority or preference over any other shares of the Funds with respect to distributions. Distributions will be made from the assets of the Funds, and will be paid pro rata to all shareholders of each Fund (or class) according to the number of shares of each Fund (or class) held by shareholders on the record date. The amount of income dividends per share may vary between separate share classes of the Funds based upon differences in the way that expenses are allocated between share classes pursuant to a multiple class plan.

Voting Rights and Shareholder Meetings

Shareholders have the power to vote only as expressly granted under the 1940 Act or under Delaware statutory trust law (in the case of CFVITI) or Massachusetts business trust law (in the case of CFVSTII). Each whole share (or fractional share) outstanding on the record date established in accordance with the Declaration of Trust shall be entitled to a number of votes on any matter on which it is entitled to vote equal to the net asset value of the share (or fractional share) in U.S. dollars determined at the close of business on the record date (for example, a share having a net asset value of $10.50 would be entitled to 10.5 votes).

Shareholders have no independent right to vote on any matter, including the creation, operation, dissolution or termination of the Trust. Shareholders have the right to vote on other matters only as the Board authorizes. Currently, the 1940 Act requires that shareholders have the right to vote, under certain circumstances, to: (i) elect Trustees; (ii) approve investment advisory agreements; (iii) approve a change in subclassification of a Fund; (iv) approve any change in fundamental investment policies; (v) approve a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (vi) to terminate the independent accountant. At any shareholders’ meetings that may be held, shareholders of all series would vote together, irrespective of series, on the election of Trustees, but with respect to matters that affect one class but not another, shareholders vote as a class; for example, the approval of a distribution plan applicable to that class is voted on by holders of that class of shares. Subject to the foregoing, all shares of the Trust have equal voting rights and will be voted in the aggregate, and not by Fund, except where voting by Fund is required by law or where the matter involved only affects one Fund. For example, a change in

 

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a Fund’s fundamental investment policy affects only one Fund and would be voted upon only by shareholders of the Fund involved. Additionally, approval of an investment advisory agreement (if shareholder approval is required under exemptive relief) or investment subadvisory agreement, since it only affects one Fund, is a matter to be determined separately by each Fund. Approval by the shareholders of one Fund is effective as to that Fund whether or not sufficient votes are received from the shareholders of the other series to approve the proposal as to those Funds. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each whole share held and a proportional fractional vote for each fractional vote held, on matters on which they are entitled to vote. Fund shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. The Trust is not required to hold, and have no present intention of holding, annual meetings of shareholders.

Previously, the Trust had voluntarily undertaken to adhere to certain governance measures contemplated by an SEC settlement order with respect to the Trust’s prior investment adviser in 2005. Over the past several years, the SEC has adopted many rules under the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to strengthen fund governance and compliance oversight of funds and their investment advisers. Accordingly, although the Trust may continue to follow certain governance practices noted in the 2005 settlement order, it will do so as the Board deems appropriate and not pursuant to any voluntary undertakings. In this regard, the Board has determined that it is unnecessary to commit to holding a meeting of shareholders to elect trustees at least every five years. Instead, the Board will convene meetings of shareholders to elect trustees as required by the 1940 Act or as deemed appropriate by the Board.

The Trustees may fill any vacancies on the Board except that the Trustees may not fill a vacancy if, immediately after filling such vacancy, less than two-thirds of the Trustees then in office would have been elected to such office by the shareholders. In addition, at such times as less than a majority of the Trustees then in office have been elected to such office by the shareholders, the Trustees must call a meeting of shareholders. Trustees may be removed from office by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares at a meeting called at the request of shareholders whose interests represent 10% or more of the outstanding shares. Except as otherwise disclosed in a Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint their successors.

Certain Participating Insurance Companies have voting rights with respect to all Fund shares held in the separate accounts where the Participating Insurance Companies set aside and invest the assets of certain of their VA contracts or VLI policies. To the extent a matter is to be voted upon by Fund shareholders and to the extent required by federal securities laws or regulations, it is expected that the Participating Insurance Companies will: (i) notify each VA contract owner and VLI policy holder (each an “Owner” and collectively, the “Owners”) of the shareholder meeting if shares held for that Owner’s contract or policy may be voted; (ii) send proxy materials and a form of instructions that each Owner can use to tell its Participating Insurance Company how to vote the Fund shares held for such contract or policy; (iii) arrange for the handling and tallying of proxies received from the Owners; (iv) vote all Fund shares attributable to each Owner’s contract or policy according to instructions received from such Owner; and (v) vote all Fund shares for which no voting instructions are received in the same proportion as shares for which instructions have been received.

For further discussion of the rights of Owners and Qualified Plan participants concerning the voting of shares, please see your annuity or life insurance contract prospectus or Qualified Plan disclosure documents, as applicable.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or the Funds, shareholders of the Funds are entitled to receive the assets attributable to the relevant class of shares of the Funds that are available for distribution and to a distribution of any general assets not attributable to a particular investment portfolio that are available for distribution in such manner and on such basis as the Board may determine.

Preemptive Rights

There are no preemptive rights associated with Fund shares.

Conversion Rights

Conversion features and exchange privileges are described in the Funds’ prospectuses.

Redemptions

Each Fund’s dividend, distribution and redemption policies can be found in its prospectuses. However, the Board may suspend the right of shareholders to sell shares when permitted or required to do so by law or compel sales of shares in certain cases.

Sinking Fund Provisions

The Trust has no sinking fund provisions.

 

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Calls or Assessment

All Fund shares are issued in uncertificated form only and when issued will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

Purchase and Redemption

An investor may buy, sell and transfer shares in the Funds utilizing the methods, and subject to the restrictions, described in the Funds’ prospectuses. The following information supplements information in the Funds’ prospectuses.

Fund shares are made available to serve as the underlying investment vehicles for VA contract and VLI policy separate accounts issued by Participating Insurance Companies, for Qualified Plans and for certain other eligible investors. Shares of the Funds are sold at net asset value without the imposition of a sales charge. The separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies or Qualified Plan sponsor place orders to purchase and redeem shares of the Funds based on, among other things, the amount of premium payments to be invested and the amount of surrender and transfer requests to be effected on that day pursuant to the contracts.

In addition, in no instance will the Funds be made available to life insurance separate accounts without the Trust having received any necessary SEC consents or approvals. It is conceivable that in the future it may be disadvantageous for VA contract separate accounts and VLI policy separate accounts to invest in the Funds simultaneously. Although the Trust and the Funds do not currently foresee any such disadvantages either to VA contract owners or VLI policy owners, the Trust’s Board intends to monitor events in order to identify any material conflicts between such VA contract owners and VLI policy owners and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response thereto. If the Board were to conclude that separate funds should be established for VLI policy and VA contract separate accounts, the VLI policy and VA contract owners would not bear any expenses attendant to the establishment of such separate funds.

Purchases of shares of the Funds may be effected on days on which the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). The Trust and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase order. The issuance of Shares is recorded on the books of the Trust, and share certificates are not issued. Purchase orders for shares in the Funds that are received by the Distributor or by the Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading hours on the Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on any Business Day are priced according to the net asset value determined on that day but are not executed until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Business Day on which immediately available funds in payment of the purchase price are received by the Fund’s Custodian.

Redemption proceeds are normally remitted in Federal funds wired to the redeeming Participating Insurance Company or Qualified Plan sponsor within three Business Days following receipt of the order. It is the responsibility of the Distributor to transmit orders it receives to the Trust. No charge for wiring redemption payments is imposed by the Trust. Redemption orders are effected at the net asset value per share next determined after acceptance of the order by the Transfer Agent.

Should a Fund stop selling shares, the Board may make a deduction from the value of the assets held by the Fund to cover the cost of future liquidations of the assets so as to distribute these costs fairly among all shareholders.

The Trust also may make payment for sales in readily marketable securities or other property if it is appropriate to do so in light of the Trust’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

Under the 1940 Act, the Funds may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for shares during any period when (i) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC; (ii) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (iii) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension; (iv) an emergency exists as determined by the SEC. (The Funds may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of their shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which each Fund is obligated to redeem shares, subject to the exceptions listed above, with respect to any one shareholder during any 90-day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of each Fund at the beginning of the period. Although redemptions in excess of this limitation would normally be paid in cash, the Fund reserves the right to make these payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets in case of an emergency, or if the payment of a redemption in cash would be detrimental to the existing shareholders of the Fund as determined by the Board. In these circumstances, the securities distributed would be valued as set forth in this SAI. Should a Fund distribute securities, a shareholder may incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting the securities to cash.

The timing and magnitude of cash inflows from investors buying Fund shares could prevent a Fund from always being fully invested. Conversely, the timing and magnitude of cash outflows to investors redeeming Fund shares could require large

 

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ready reserves of uninvested cash to meet shareholder redemptions. Either situation could adversely impact a Fund’s performance.

Potential Adverse Effects of Large Investors

Each Fund may from time to time sell to one or more investors, including other funds advised by the Investment Manager or third parties, a substantial amount of its shares, and may thereafter be required to satisfy redemption requests by such investors. Such sales and redemptions may be very substantial relative to the size of the Fund. While it is not possible to predict the overall effect of such sales and redemptions over time, such transactions may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is required to invest cash received in connection with a sale or to sell portfolio securities to facilitate a redemption at, in either case, a time when the Fund otherwise would not invest or sell. Such transactions also may increase a Fund’s transaction costs, which would detract from Fund performance. If a Fund is forced to sell portfolio securities that have appreciated in value, such sales may accelerate the realization of taxable income.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

The Funds are required to comply with various anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Consequently, the Funds may request additional required information from you to verify your identity. Your application will be rejected if it does not contain your name, social security number, date of birth and permanent street address. If at any time the Funds believe a shareholder may be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of suspicious persons, the Funds may choose not to establish a new account or may be required to “freeze” a shareholder’s account. The Funds also may be required to provide a governmental agency with information about transactions that have occurred in a shareholder’s account or to transfer monies received to establish a new account, transfer an existing account or transfer the proceeds of an existing account to a governmental agency. In some circumstances, the law may not permit the Funds to inform the shareholder that it has taken the actions described above.

Offering Price

The share price of each Fund is based on each Fund’s net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time unless the NYSE closes earlier) on each day the Fund is open for business, unless the Board determines otherwise. The Funds do not value their shares on days that the NYSE is closed.

For Funds Other than Money Market Funds. The value of each Fund’s portfolio securities is determined in accordance with the Trust’s valuation procedures, which are approved by the Board. Except as described below under “Fair Valuation of Portfolio Securities,” the Fund’s portfolio securities are typically valued using the following methodologies:

Equity Securities . Equity securities (including common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants and ETFs) listed on an exchange are valued at the closing price on their primary exchange (which, in the case of foreign securities, may be a foreign exchange) or, if a closing price is not readily available, at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter equity securities not listed on any national exchange but included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if the official closing price is not readily available, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Equity securities and ETFs that are not listed on any national exchange and are not included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the primary exchange last sale price, or if the last sale price is not readily available, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Shares of other open-end investment companies (other than ETFs) are valued at the latest net asset value reported by those companies.

Fixed Income Securities . Short-term debt securities purchased with remaining maturities of 60 days or less and long-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their amortized cost value. Amortized cost is an approximation of market value determined by systematically increasing the carrying value of a security if acquired at a discount, or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium, so that the carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date. The value of short-term debt securities with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days is the market price, which may be obtained from a pricing service or, if a market price is not available from a pricing service, a bid quote from a broker or dealer. Short-term variable rate demand notes are typically valued at their par value. Other debt securities typically are valued using an evaluated bid provided by a pricing service. If pricing information is unavailable from a pricing service or the Investment Manager’s valuation committee believes such information is not reflective of market value, then a quote from a broker or dealer may be used. Newly issued debt securities may be valued at purchase price for up to two days following purchase.

Futures, Options and Other Derivatives . Futures and options on futures are valued based on the settle price at the close of regular trading on their principal exchange or, in the absence of transactions, they are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices closest to the last reported sale price. Listed options are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. If market quotations are not readily available, futures and options are valued using quotations from brokers.

 

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Customized derivative products are valued at a price provided by a pricing service or, if such a price is unavailable, a broker quote or at a price derived from an internal valuation model.

Repurchase Agreements . Repurchase agreements are generally valued at a price equal to the amount of the cash invested in a repurchase agreement

Foreign Currencies . Foreign currencies and securities denominated in foreign currencies are valued in U.S. dollars utilizing spot exchange rates at the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued in U.S. dollars utilizing the applicable forward currency exchange rate as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE.

For Money Market Funds. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, all of the securities in the portfolio of a money market fund are valued at amortized cost. The amortized cost method of valuation is an approximation of market value determined by systematically increasing the carrying value of a security if acquired at a discount, or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium, so that the carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date. Amortized cost does not take into consideration unrealized capital gains or losses.

The Board has established procedures designed to stabilize the Fund’s price per share for purposes of sales and redemptions at $1.00, to the extent that it is reasonably possible to do so. These procedures include review of the Fund’s securities by the Board, at intervals deemed appropriate by it, to determine whether the Fund’s net asset value per share computed by using available market quotations deviates from a share value of $1.00 as computed using the amortized cost method. Deviations are reported to the Board periodically and, if any such deviation exceeds 0.5%, the Board must determine what action, if any, needs to be taken. If the Board determines that a deviation exists that may result in a material dilution or other unfair results for shareholders or investors, the Board must cause the Fund to undertake such remedial action as the Board deems appropriate to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable such dilution or unfair results.

Such action may include withholding dividends, calculating net asset value per share for purposes of sales and redemptions using available market quotations, making redemptions in kind, and/or selling securities before maturity in order to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity.

While the amortized cost method provides certainty and consistency in portfolio valuation, it may result in valuations of securities that are either somewhat higher or lower than the prices at which the securities could be sold. This means that during times of declining interest rates the yield on the Fund’s shares may be higher than if valuations of securities were made based on actual market prices and estimates of market prices. Accordingly, if using the amortized cost method were to result in a lower portfolio value, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield than the investor would receive if portfolio valuations were based on actual market values. Existing shareholders, on the other hand, would receive a somewhat lower yield than they would otherwise receive. The opposite would happen during a period of rising interest rates.

Fair Valuation of Portfolio Securities. Rather than using the methods described above, the Investment Manager’s valuation committee will, in accordance with valuation procedures, which are approved by the Board, determine in good faith a security’s fair value in the event that (i) quotations are not readily available, such as when trading is halted or securities are not actively traded; (ii) valuations obtained for a security are deemed, in the judgment of the valuation committee, not to be reflective of market value (prices deemed unreliable); or (iii) a significant event has been recognized in relation to a security or class of securities that is not reflected in quotations from other sources, such as when an event impacting a foreign security occurs after the closing of the security’s foreign exchange but before the closing of the NYSE. The fair value of a security is likely to be different from the quoted or published price and fair value determinations often require significant judgment.

In general, any relevant factors may be taken into account in determining fair value, including the following, among others: the fundamental analytical data relating to the security; the value of other financial instruments, including derivative securities traded on other markets or among dealers; trading volumes on markets, exchanges, or among dealers; values of baskets of securities on markets, exchanges, or among dealers; changes in interest rates; observations from financial institutions; government actions or pronouncements; other news events; information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; nature and expected duration of the event, if any, giving rise to the valuation issue; pricing history; the relative size of the position in the portfolio; internal models; and other relevant information.

With respect to securities traded on foreign markets, relevant factors may include, but not be limited to, the following: the value of foreign securities traded on other foreign markets; ADR and/or GDR trading; closed-end fund trading; foreign currency exchange activity and prices; and the trading of financial products that are tied to baskets of foreign securities, such as certain exchange-traded index funds. A systematic independent fair value pricing service assists in the fair valuation process for foreign securities in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign exchange and the time at which a Fund’s NAV is determined. Although the use of this service is intended to decrease

 

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opportunities for time zone arbitrage transactions, there can be no assurance that it will successfully decrease arbitrage opportunities.

TAXATION

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Funds’ prospectuses entitled Distributions and Taxes . The prospectuses generally describe the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Funds and their shareholders. This section of the SAI provides additional information concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, judicial authority, and administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect as of the date of this SAI and all of which are subject to change, including changes with retroactive effect. The following discussion does not address any state, local or foreign tax matters.

The following discussion is generally based on the assumption that the shares of each Fund will be respected as owned by Participating Insurance Companies through their separate accounts, Qualified Plans, and other eligible persons or plans permitted to hold shares of a Fund pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations without impairing the ability of the Participating Insurance Company separate accounts to satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code (“Other Eligible Investors”). If this is not the case and shares of a Fund held by separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies are not respected as owned for U.S. federal income tax purposes by those separate accounts, the person(s) determined to own the Fund shares will not be eligible for tax deferral and, instead, will be taxed currently on Fund distributions and on the proceeds of any sale, transfer or redemption of Fund shares under applicable U.S. federal income tax rules that may not be discussed herein.

VP – Core Equity Fund will be treated as an entity disregarded from its owner for federal income tax purposes (a so-called “disregarded entity”). A disregarded entity itself is not subject to U.S. federal income tax nor to any annual tax return filing requirements.

The Trust has not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the IRS as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the following discussion and the discussions in the Funds’ prospectuses address only some of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Funds. In particular, because Participating Insurance Company separate accounts, Qualified Plans and Other Eligible Investors will be the only shareholders of a Fund, only certain U.S. federal tax aspects of an investment in a Fund are described herein. Holders of VA contracts and VLI policies (together, “Contracts”), Qualified Plan participants, or persons investing through an Other Eligible Investor are urged to consult the Participating Insurance Company, Qualified Plan, or Other Eligible Investor through which their investment is made, as well as to consult their own tax advisors and financial planners, regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund, the application of state, local, or foreign laws, and the effect of any possible changes in applicable tax laws on an investment in a Fund.

Taxation — Funds Intending to Qualify as Regulated Investment Companies

The following sections apply only to the following Funds and their shareholders: VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund, VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund, VP – Cash Management Fund, VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, VP – Commodity Strategy Fund, VP – DFA International Value Fund, VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund, VP – Diversified Bond Fund, VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund, VP – Emerging Markets Fund, VP – Global Bond Fund, VP – High Yield Bond Fund, VP – Income Opportunities Fund, VP – International Opportunity Fund, VP – Invesco International Growth Fund, VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund, VP – Limited Duration Credit Fund, VP – Marsico 21 st Century Fund, VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund, VP – Marsico Growth Fund, VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund, VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund, VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund, VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund, VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund and VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund:

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company

It is intended that each Fund qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1 of the Code. Each Fund will be treated as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, the provisions of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies generally will apply separately to each Fund, even though each Fund is a series of the Trust. Furthermore, each Fund will separately determine its income, gains, losses, and expenses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year generally from (i) dividends, interest,

 

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certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income attributable to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, as defined below. In general, for purposes of this 90% gross income requirement, income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership) will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (very generally, defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (y) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources defined in Code Section 7704(d), and (z) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. Certain of a Fund’s investments in master limited partnerships (MLPs) and ETFs, if any, may qualify as interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships, as described further below. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules do not apply to a regulated investment company, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

Each Fund must also diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the fair market value of its total assets consists of (A) cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and (B) securities of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (A)) to the extent such securities do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and are not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of the securities of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (i)(A)), the securities of two or more issuers the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. In addition, for purposes of meeting this diversification requirement, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” includes the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership and in the case of a Fund’s investments in loan participations, the Fund shall treat both the financial intermediary and the issuer of the underlying loan as an issuer. The qualifying income and diversification requirements described above may limit the extent to which a Fund can engage in certain derivative transactions, including, but not limited to, options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swap agreements and commodity-linked instruments, as well as the extent to which it can invest in MLPs and certain commodity-linked ETFs.

In addition, each Fund generally must distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income for the taxable year, which generally includes its ordinary income and the excess of any net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income (if any) for the taxable year.

If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any of the investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) it distributes to its shareholders. Each Fund generally intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and its net capital gain. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation. Any investment company taxable income or net capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income, and its earnings and profits, a regulated investment company generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as the greatest of net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss, in each case attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, plus (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

In order to comply with the distribution requirements described above applicable to regulated investment companies, a Fund generally must make the distributions in the same taxable year that it realizes the income and gain, although in certain circumstances, a Fund may make the distributions in the following taxable year in respect of income and gains from the prior taxable year. If a Fund declares a distribution to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one calendar year and pays the distribution by January 31 of the following calendar year the Fund and its shareholders will be treated as if the Fund paid the distribution on December 31 of the earlier year. If a Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure including by paying a fund-level tax or interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or otherwise were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax

 

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treatment under the Code for such year, (i) it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation without any deduction for its distributions to shareholders, and (ii) each Participating Insurance Company separate account invested in the Fund would fail to satisfy the separate diversification requirements described below (See Taxation – Special Tax Considerations for Separate Accounts of Participating Insurance Companies ), with the result that the Contracts supported by that account would no longer be eligible for tax deferral. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company.

Excise Tax

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis by regulated investment companies in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax at the Fund level. This excise tax, however, is generally inapplicable to any regulated investment company whose sole shareholders are separate accounts of insurance companies funding Contracts, Qualified Plans, Other Eligible Investors, or other regulated investment companies that are also exempt from the excise tax. If a Fund is subject to the excise tax requirements and the Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for that year (excluding capital gains and losses) and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (adjusted for net ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year (or the last day of the Fund’s taxable year ending in December of that year if the Fund so elects), and any of its ordinary income and capital gain net income from previous years that were not distributed during such years, the Fund will be subject to the excise tax. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would be taken properly into account after October 31 of a calendar year are generally treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. For purposes of the excise tax, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. Each Fund generally intends, if it is subject to the excise tax, to actually distribute or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any, by the end of each calendar year in order to avoid having any liability for payment of excise tax. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not have any excise tax liability.

Capital Loss Carryforwards

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, a Fund is able to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year to offset its capital gains, if any, realized during a subsequent taxable year. If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-2010 losses”), those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. If a Fund incurred net capital losses in a taxable year beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (“pre-2011 losses”), the Fund is permitted to carry such losses forward for eight taxable years; in the year to which they are carried forward, such losses are treated as short-term capital losses that first offset short-term capital gains, and then offset any long-term capital gains. The Fund must use any post 2010-losses, which will not expire, before it uses any pre-2011 losses. This increases the likelihood that pre-2011 losses will expire unused at the conclusion of the eight-year carryforward period. Capital gains that are offset by carried forward capital losses are not subject to fund-level U.S. federal income taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. Accordingly, the Funds do not expect to distribute any such offsetting capital gains. The Funds cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses. The total capital loss carryovers below include post-October losses, if applicable. If a fund is not shown, it does not currently have any capital loss carryover.

Capital Loss Carryover

 

     Total Capital
Loss
Carryovers
     Amount Expiring in      Amount Not Expiring  
Fund       2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      2019      Short-term      Long-term  
VP – Cash Management Fund      2,534,216         $2,520         $0         $210,492         $2,314,650         $6,554         $0         $0         $0   
VP – Commodity Strategy Fund      423         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $423         $0   
VP – High Yield Bond Fund      87,531,642         $0         $0         $15,274,092         $72,257,550         $0         $0         $0         $0   
VP – Income Opportunities Fund      6,367,733         $0         $0         $6,367,733         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0   
VP – International Opportunity Fund      114,274,696         $0         $0         $967,669         $113,307,027         $0         $0         $0         $0   
VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund      57,353,100         $0         $0         $9,160,020         $48,193,080         $0         $0         $0         $0   
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund      23,003,298         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $21,829,650         $1,173,648   
VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund      23,723,085         $0         $0         $0         $6,657,278         $0         $0         $15,164,997         $1,900,810   
VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund      7,977,168         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $0         $7,977,168         $0   

 

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Taxation of Fund Investments

If a Fund purchases a debt obligation with original issue discount (OID) (generally a debt obligation with an issue price less than its stated principal amount, such as a zero-coupon bond), the Fund may be required to annually include in its income a portion of the OID as ordinary income, even though the Fund will not receive cash payments for such discount until maturity or disposition of the obligation, and depending on market conditions and the credit quality of the bond, might never receive cash for such discount. Inflation-protected bonds generally can be expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation. A Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the OID or market discount (if an election is made by the Fund to include market discount over the holding period of the applicable debt obligation) on debt securities that is currently includible in income, even though the cash representing such income may not have been received by the Fund, and depending on market conditions and the credit quality of the bond, might never be received. Cash to pay such distributions may be obtained from borrowing or from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund which the Fund otherwise might have continued to hold; obtaining such cash might be disadvantageous for the Fund. Payment-in-kind securities similarly will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though a Fund receives no cash interest payment on the security during the year.

If a Fund invests in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default, special tax issues may exist for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as: (1) whether a Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, (2) if so, the amount of market discount the Fund should recognize, (3) when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, (4) when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and (5) how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by a Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts and similar instruments relating to foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and timing of recognition of the Fund’s income. Under future Treasury Regulations, any such transactions that are not directly related to a Fund’s investments in stock or securities (or its options contracts or futures contracts with respect to stock or securities) may have to be limited in order to enable the Fund to satisfy the 90% qualifying income test described above. If the net foreign exchange loss exceeds a Fund’s net investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year, the resulting ordinary loss for such year will not be available as a carryforward and thus cannot be deducted by the Fund in future years.

A Fund’s transactions in securities and certain types of derivatives (e.g., options, futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements), as well as any of its hedging, short sale, securities loan or similar transactions may be subject to special tax rules, such as the notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, wash-sale, mark-to-market (“Section 1256”), or short-sale rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, or change the character of the Fund’s income. Rules governing the U.S. federal income tax aspects of certain of these transactions, including certain commodity-linked investments, are in a developing stage and are not entirely clear in certain respects. Accordingly, while each Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid fund-level tax. Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order for a Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in certain derivatives or commodity-linked transactions.

If a Fund receives a payment in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. (A dividends-received deduction is a deduction that may be available to corporate shareholders, subject to imitations and other rules, on Fund distributions attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends-received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by a Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met. These requirements are complex; therefore, corporate shareholders of the Funds are urged to consult their own tax advisors and financial planners.) Similar consequences may apply to repurchase and other derivative transactions. Certain of a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, as well as any of its foreign currency transactions and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund

 

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could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

Any investment by a Fund in REIT equity securities may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require a Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Amounts realized by a Fund from sources within foreign countries (e.g., dividends or interest paid on foreign securities) may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries; such taxes would reduce the Fund’s return on those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

A Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (TMPs). Under an IRS notice, and Treasury Regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) to entities (including a Qualified Plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or certain other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax, and (iv) in the case of a Participating Insurance Company separate account supporting a Contract, cannot be offset by an adjustment to the reserves and thus is currently taxed notwithstanding the more general tax deferral available to Participating Insurance Company separate accounts funding Contracts.

Income of a Fund that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity will not generally be attributed as UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder of the Fund. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).

Some amounts received by a Fund from its investments in MLPs will likely be treated as returns of capital because of accelerated deductions available with respect to the activities of MLPs. On the disposition of an investment in such an MLP, the Fund will likely realize taxable income in excess of economic gain from that asset (or if, in later periods, a Fund does not dispose of the MLP, the Fund will likely realize taxable income in excess of cash flow received by the Fund from the MLP), and the Fund must take such income into account in determining whether the Fund has satisfied its regulated investment company distribution requirements. The Fund may have to borrow or liquidate securities to satisfy its distribution requirements and meet its redemption requests, even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to borrow money or sell securities at the time.

As noted above, certain of the ETFs and MLPs in which a Fund may invest qualify as qualified publicly traded partnerships. In such cases, the net income derived from such investments will constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described earlier for qualification as a regulated investment company. If, however, such a vehicle were to fail to qualify as a qualified publicly traded partnership in a particular year, a portion of the gross income derived from it in such year could constitute nonqualifying income to a Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement and thus could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company for a particular year. In addition, as described above, the diversification requirement for regulated investment company qualification will limit a Fund’s investments in one or more vehicles that are qualified publicly traded partnerships to 25% of the Fund’s total assets as of the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year.

“Passive foreign investment companies” (PFICs) are generally defined as foreign corporations where at least 75% of their gross income for their taxable year is income from passive sources (such as certain interest, dividends, rents and royalties, or capital gains) or at least 50% of their assets on average produce such passive income. If a Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and interest charges on “excess distributions” received from the PFIC or on gain from the sale of such equity interest in the PFIC, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders.

 

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Elections may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections would require a Fund to include its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC (in the case of a “QEF election”), or to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its interests in the PFIC “to the market” as though the Fund had sold and repurchased such interests on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year, treating such gains and losses as ordinary income and loss (in the case of a “mark-to-market election”). The QEF and mark-to-market elections may require a Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require a Fund to liquidate other investments prematurely to meet the minimum distribution requirements described above, which also may adversely affect the Fund’s total return. Each Fund may attempt to limit and/or manage its holdings in PFICs to minimize tax liability and/or maximize returns from these investments but there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. Moreover, because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

A U.S. person, including a Fund, who owns (directly or indirectly) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “U.S. Shareholder” for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) provisions of the Code. A CFC is a foreign corporation that, on any day of its taxable year, is owned (directly, indirectly, or constructively) more than 50% (measured by voting power or value) by U.S. Shareholders. The wholly-owned subsidiaries of VP – Commodity Strategy Fund (for purposes of this paragraph, each a Fund) are expected to be CFCs in which the respective Fund will be a U.S. Shareholder. As a U.S. Shareholder, each Fund is required to include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes all of the “subpart F income” of a CFC in which the Fund invests, whether or not such income is actually distributed by the CFC, provided that the foreign corporation has been a CFC for at least 30 uninterrupted days in its taxable year. Subpart F income generally includes interest, OID, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans, net gains from transactions (including futures, forward, and similar transactions) in commodities, and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. Net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year do not flow through to the Fund and thus will not be available to offset income or capital gain generated from the Fund’s other investments. In addition, net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year generally cannot be carried forward by the CFC to offset gains realized by it in subsequent taxable years. To the extent a Fund invests in a CFC and recognizes subpart F income in excess of actual cash distributions from the CFC, the Fund may be required to sell assets (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to generate the cash necessary to distribute as dividends to its shareholders all of its income and gains and therefore to eliminate any tax liability at the Fund level.

In addition, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) generally imposes a reporting and 30% withholding tax regime with respect to so called “withholdable payments” when certain reporting requirements are not met. Very generally, withholdable payments are payments of certain U.S.-source income (such as interest and dividends) and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of property that can produce U.S.-source interest or dividends. The 30% withholding tax on withholdable payments is scheduled to be phased in beginning with payments made on July 1, 2014. Pursuant to these requirements, to the extent a Subsidiary receives withholdable payments on an investment, it will be subject to the 30% withholding tax unless the Subsidiary satisfies the reporting or certain other requirements, as may be applicable to the Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary expects to satisfy such of these requirements as may be applicable to it, so as to avoid this 30% withholding tax. See “Certain Shareholder Reporting and Withholding Requirements” below for more discussion of these rules.

In addition to the investments described above, prospective shareholders should be aware that other investments made by a Fund may involve complex tax rules that may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without corresponding current cash receipts. Although each Fund seeks to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by a Fund, in which case the Fund may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described above. In this regard, a Fund could be required at times to liquidate investments prematurely in order to satisfy its minimum distribution requirements, which may accelerate the recognition of gain and adversely affect the Fund’s total return. Furthermore, amounts realized by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries, thereby reducing the amount available for distribution to shareholders.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

Under Treasury Regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, including a Participating Insurance Company holding separate accounts, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company, such as Participating Insurance Companies that own shares in a Fund through their separate accounts, are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all

 

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regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Taxation — Funds Expecting to Be Treated as Partnerships

The following sections apply only to the following Funds and their shareholders: VP – Aggressive Portfolio, VP – Balanced Fund, VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund, VP – Conservative Portfolio, VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund, VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund, VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund, VP – Large Cap Growth Fund, VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund, VP – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, VP – MFS Value Fund, VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund, VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund, VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio, VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio, VP – Moderate Portfolio, VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund, VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund, VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund, VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund, VP – S&P 500 Index Fund, VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund, VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund and VP – Victory Established Value Fund (collectively, the “Partnership Funds”):

Fund Status

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each Fund expects to be treated as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation, and does not expect to be a “publicly traded partnership” as defined in Section 7704 of the Code. Each Fund considers itself to be a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, each Fund and its shareholders should not be required to take into account the assets, operations, or shareholders of other series of the Trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (e.g., for purposes of determining possible characterization as a publicly traded partnership). If a Fund were determined to be a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, (i) it generally would be subject to tax at the Fund level on its earnings and profits at regular corporate income tax rates, and (ii) each Participating Insurance Company separate account invested in the Fund would fail to satisfy the separate diversification requirements described below (See Taxation – Special Tax Considerations for Separate Accounts of Participating Insurance Companies ), with the result that the Contracts supported by that account would no longer be eligible for tax deferral.

As a partnership, a Fund is not itself subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each shareholder will be required to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes its allocable share of a Fund’s income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other tax items, without regard to whether such shareholder has received or will receive corresponding distributions from the Fund. Allocations of these tax items, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally will be made in accordance with the economics of the Funds. Such items when allocated to a shareholder will generally retain their character as qualifying for particular tax treatment (e.g., eligibility for dividends-received deduction) when received by a taxable shareholder such as a Participating Insurance Company; this “pass-through” of tax characteristics will generally not affect holders of Contracts funded by a Fund or participants in Qualified Plans investing in a Fund.

Taxation of Fund Investments

Any investment by a Fund in foreign securities may subject the Fund and/or its shareholders (whether or not shareholders receive any distributions with respect to such investments), directly or indirectly, to taxation, including withholding or other taxes on dividends, interest, or capital gains, and/or tax filing obligations in foreign jurisdictions. A Fund and/or its shareholders may otherwise be subject to foreign taxation on repatriation proceeds generated from those securities or to other transaction-based foreign taxes on those securities.

A U.S. person, including a Fund, who owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “U.S. Shareholder” for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) provisions of the Code. A CFC is a foreign corporation that, on any day of its taxable year, is owned (directly, indirectly, or constructively) more than 50% (measured by voting power or value) by U.S. Shareholders. The wholly-owned subsidiary of VP – Commodity Strategy Fund (for purposes of this paragraph, a Fund) is expected to be a CFC in which the Fund will be a U.S. Shareholder. As a U.S. Shareholder, the Fund is required to include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes all of a CFC’s “subpart F income,” whether or not such income is actually distributed by the CFC, provided that the foreign corporation has been a CFC for at least 30 uninterrupted days in its taxable year. Subpart F income generally includes interest, OID, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans, net gains from transactions (including futures, forward, and similar transactions) in commodities, and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. Subpart F income is treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the CFC’s underlying income. Net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year do not flow through to a Fund and thus will not be available to offset income or capital gain generated from a Fund’s other investments. In addition, net losses incurred by a CFC during a tax year generally cannot be carried forward by the CFC to offset gains realized by it in subsequent taxable years.

 

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A Fund may invest in PFICs, which also are subject to special tax rules. Shareholders of a Fund that invests in a CFC, including a Subsidiary, or a PFIC may be subject to special reporting and filing requirements in respect of their indirect investment in such instruments. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued, but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to a Fund from a pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a partnership, such as the Funds, will be allocated to shareholders of the partnership consistent with their allocation of other items of income, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute UBTI to entities (including a Qualified Plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan, or certain other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax, and (iv) in the case of a Participating Insurance Company separate account supporting a Contract, cannot be offset by an adjustment to the reserves and thus is currently taxed notwithstanding the more general tax deferral available to Participating Insurance Company separate accounts funding Contracts.

In addition, to the extent that a shareholder has borrowed to finance shares of a Fund or a Fund holds property that constitutes debt-financed property ( e.g., securities purchased on margin), income attributable to such property allocated to a shareholder that is an exempt organization may constitute UBTI. Certain of a Fund’s other investments or activities may also generate UBTI. Furthermore, the IRS may take the position that certain of a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments should be reclassified in a manner that gives rise to UBTI. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements may, under certain conditions, be characterized as secured loans, the proceeds of which could be used to acquire assets that would, therefore, give rise to debt-financed income. If a Fund generates UBTI, a tax-exempt shareholder in the Fund generally would be required to file a tax return and could incur tax liability on such shareholder’s allocable share of that UBTI. Each Fund currently does not expect to leverage its investments.

Qualified Plans and other tax-exempt shareholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the possible effects of UBTI on their own tax situation as well as the general tax implications of an investment in a Fund.

U.S. Tax Shelter Rules

A Fund may engage in transactions or make investments that would subject the Fund, its shareholders, and/or its “material advisors,” as defined in Treas. Reg. Sec. 301.6112-1(c)(1), to special rules requiring such transactions or investments by the Fund or investments in the Fund to be reported and/or otherwise disclosed to the IRS, including to the IRS’s Office of Tax Shelter Analysis (the “Tax Shelter Rules”). A transaction may be subject to reporting or disclosure if it is described in any of several categories of “reportable transactions”, which include, among others, transactions that result in the incurrence of a loss or losses exceeding certain thresholds or that are offered under conditions of confidentiality. Although each Fund does not expect to engage in transactions solely or principally for the purpose of achieving a particular tax consequence, there can be no assurance that a Fund will not engage in transactions that trigger the Tax Shelter Rules. In addition, a shareholder may have disclosure obligations with respect to its shares in a Fund if the shareholder (or the Fund in certain cases) participates in a reportable transaction.

Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors about their obligation to report or disclose to the IRS information about their investment in a Fund and participation in a Fund’s income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit with respect to transactions or investments subject to these rules. In addition, pursuant to these rules, a Fund may provide to its material advisors identifying information about the Fund’s shareholders and their participation in the Fund and the Fund’s income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit from those transactions or investments, and the Fund or its material advisors may disclose this information to the IRS upon its request. Significant penalties may apply for failure to comply with these rules.

In addition, an excise tax and additional disclosure requirements may apply to certain tax-exempt entities that are “parties” to certain types of prohibited tax shelter transactions. Qualified Plans and other tax-exempt shareholders should consult with their tax advisors in this regard.

In certain circumstances, a Fund and/or a Fund’s tax advisor may make special disclosures to the IRS of certain positions taken by the Fund.

 

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Special Tax Considerations for Separate Accounts of Participating Insurance Companies (all Funds except VP – Core Equity Fund)

Under the Code, if the investments of a segregated asset account, such as the separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies, are “adequately diversified,” and certain other requirements are met, a holder of a Contract supported by the account will receive favorable tax treatment in the form of deferral of tax until a distribution is made under the Contract.

In general, the investments of a segregated asset account are considered to be “adequately diversified” only if: (i) no more than 55% of the value of the total assets of the account is represented by any one investment; (ii) no more than 70% of the value of the total assets of the account is represented by any two investments; (iii) no more than 80% of the value of the total assets of the account is represented by any three investments; and (iv) no more than 90% of the value of the total assets of the account is represented by any four investments. Section 817(h) provides as a safe harbor that a segregated asset account is also considered to be “adequately diversified” if it meets the regulated investment company diversification tests described earlier and no more than 55% of the value of the total assets of the account is attributable to cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, and securities of other regulated investment companies.

In general, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single investment for such purposes, and each U.S. Government agency and instrumentality is considered a separate issuer. However, Treasury Regulations provide a “look-through rule” with respect to a segregated asset account’s investments in a regulated investment company or partnership for purposes of the applicable diversification requirements, provided certain conditions are satisfied by the regulated investment company or partnership. In particular, (i) if the beneficial interests in the regulated investment company or partnership are held by one or more segregated asset accounts of one or more insurance companies, and (ii) if public access to such regulated investment company or partnership is available exclusively through the purchase of a Contract, then a segregated asset account’s beneficial interest in the regulated investment company or partnership is not treated as a single investment. Instead, a pro rata portion of each asset of the regulated investment company or partnership is treated as an asset of the segregated asset account. Look-through treatment is also available if the two requirements above are met and notwithstanding the fact that beneficial interests in the regulated investment company or partnership are also held by Qualified Plans and Other Eligible Investors. Additionally, to the extent a Fund meeting the above conditions invests in underlying regulated investment companies or partnerships that themselves are owned exclusively by insurance company separate accounts, Qualified Plans, or Other Eligible Investors, the assets of those underlying regulated investment companies or partnerships generally should be treated as assets of the separate accounts investing in the Fund.

As indicated above, the Trust intends that each of the Partnership Funds, as a partnership that is not a “publicly traded partnership,” under the Code. The Trust also intends to cause each Fund to satisfy the separate diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations at all times to enable the corresponding separate accounts to be “adequately diversified.” In addition, the Trust intends that each Fund will qualify for the “look-through rule” described above by limiting the investment in each Fund’s shares to Participating Insurance Company separate accounts, Qualified Plans and Other Eligible Investors. Accordingly, the Trust intends that each Participating Insurance Company, through its separate accounts, will be able to treat its interests in a Fund as ownership of a pro rata portion of each asset of the Fund, so that individual holders of the Contracts underlying the separate account will qualify for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment under the Code. However, no assurance can be made in that regard.

Failure by a Fund to satisfy the Section 817(h) requirements by failing to comply with the “55%-70%-80%-90%” diversification test or the safe harbor described above, or by failing to comply with the “look-through rule,” could cause the Contracts to lose their favorable tax status and require a Contract holder to include currently in ordinary income any income accrued under the Contracts for the current and all prior taxable years. Under certain circumstances described in the applicable Treasury Regulations, inadvertent failure to satisfy the Section 817(h) diversification requirements may be corrected; such a correction would require a payment to the IRS. Any such failure could also result in adverse tax consequences for the Participating Insurance Company issuing the Contracts.

The IRS has indicated that a degree of investor control over the investment options underlying a Contract may interfere with the tax-deferred treatment of such Contracts. The IRS has issued rulings addressing the circumstances in which a Contract holder’s control of the investments of the separate account may cause the holder, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the holder is considered the owner of the securities underlying the separate account, income and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the holder’s gross income.

In determining whether an impermissible level of investor control is present, one factor the IRS considers is whether a Fund’s investment strategies are sufficiently broad to prevent a Contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in the separate account. For this purpose, current IRS guidance indicates that typical fund investment strategies, even those with a specific sector or geographical focus, are generally considered sufficiently broad. Most, although not necessarily all, of the Funds have objectives and strategies that are not materially

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 179   


Table of Contents

narrower than the investment strategies held not to constitute an impermissible level of investor control in recent IRS rulings (such as large company stocks, international stocks, small company stocks, mortgage-backed securities, money market securities, telecommunications stocks and financial services stocks).

The above discussion addresses only one of several factors that the IRS considers in determining whether a Contract holder has an impermissible level of investor control over a separate account. Contract holders should consult with their Participating Insurance Companies and their own tax advisors, as well as the prospectus relating to their particular Contract, for more information concerning this investor control issue.

In the event that additional rules, regulations or other guidance is issued by the IRS or the Treasury Department concerning this issue, such guidance could affect the treatment of a Fund as described above, including retroactively. In addition, there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to continue to operate as currently described, or that the Fund will not have to change its investment objective or investment policies in order to prevent, on a prospective basis, any such rules and regulations from causing Contract owners to be considered the owners of the shares of the Fund.

Certain Shareholder Reporting and Withholding Requirements (All Funds)

Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund could be required to report annually their “financial interest” in the Fund’s “foreign financial accounts,” (if any), on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Shareholders should consult their intermediaries through which a Fund investment is made (if applicable), as well as their tax advisors to determine the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

FATCA generally requires a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, a Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on dividends, including Capital Gain Dividends, and the proceeds of the sale, redemption or exchange of Fund shares; depending on the nature of the distribution, such withholding would begin as early as July 1, 2014. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other withholding or reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

Special Considerations for Contract Holders and Plan Participants

The foregoing discussion does not address the tax consequences to Contract holders or Qualified Plan participants of an investment in a Contract or participation in a Qualified Plan. Contract holders investing in a Fund through a Participating Insurance Company separate account, Qualified Plan participants, or persons investing in a Fund through Other Eligible Investors are urged to consult with their Participating Insurance Company, Qualified Plan sponsor, or Other Eligible Investor, as applicable, and their own tax advisors, for more information regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Management Ownership

All shares of the Variable Portfolio funds are owned by life insurance companies and Qualified Plans, and are not available for purchase by individuals. Consequently, as of March 31, 2014 the Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of each class of shares of each Fund.

Principal Shareholders and Control Persons

The tables below identify the names, address and ownership percentage of each person who owns of record or is known by the Trust to own beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares (Principal Holders) or 25% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares (Control Persons). A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund’s shares is presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and may have a significant impact on matters submitted to a shareholder vote. A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 50% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be able to approve proposals, or prevent approval of proposals, without regard to votes by other Fund shareholders. Additional information about Control Persons is provided following the tables. The information, for a Fund provided is as of a date no more than 30 days prior to the date on which a post-effective amendment to the applicable Trust’s registration statement with respect to such Fund.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 180   


Table of Contents

All the shares of the Funds are held of record by sub-accounts of separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies on behalf of the owners of VLI policies or VA contracts, by Qualified Plans, by the Investment Manager, by the general account of SunLife Insurance Company (SunLife) or by certain other eligible investors. At all meetings of shareholders of the Funds each Participating Insurance Company or Qualified Plan sponsor will vote the shares held of record by sub-accounts of its separate accounts only in accordance with the instructions received from the VLI policy, VA contract owners or Qualified Plan participant on behalf of whom such shares are held. All such shares as to which no instructions are received (as well as, in the case of SunLife, all shares held by its general account) will be voted in the same proportion as shares as to which instructions are received (with SunLife’s general account shares being voted in the proportions determined by instructing owners of SunLife VLI policies or VA contracts). Accordingly, each Participating Insurance Company or Qualified Plan sponsor disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the Funds held of record by the sub-accounts of its separate accounts (or, in the case of SunLife, its general account).

Except as otherwise indicated, the information below is as of March 31, 2014.

Control Persons and Principal Holders

 

       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Aggressive Portfolio  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

92.92%

81.86%

  

  

    86.21%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 4     13.04%        N/A   
VP – American Century Diversified Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        95.54% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.87%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.24%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     49.86%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.74%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.01%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     96.00%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 181   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Balanced Fund  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     93.39%        93.39%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     6.15%        N/A   
VP – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        82.44% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.59%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     49.37%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     18.16%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     13.76%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

93.96%

89.82%

  

  

    N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

5.95%

6.24%

  

  

    N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 182   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 

VP – Cash Management Fund

 

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        28.67% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     48.48%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     28.27%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

96.49%

87.52%

  

  

    N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     6.96%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.20%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 1     11.32%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 183   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        91.84% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.47%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.46%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.65%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     39.68%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     19.72%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     95.09%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 184   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        91.48% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.23%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.89%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     12.08%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     29.47%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     32.90%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     97.48%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 185   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Commodity Strategy Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        96.03% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.80%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     51.18%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     28.85%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.97%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     92.79%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.26%        N/A   
VP – Conservative Portfolio  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

88.30%

77.92%

  

  

    81.59%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

5.37%

16.31%

  

  

    N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

6.28%

5.60%

  

  

    N/A   
VP – Core Equity Fund  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 1     100.00%        100.00%   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 186   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – DFA International Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        94.58% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.06%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.62%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.07%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     33.17%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     32.09%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     94.97%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 187   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Diversified Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        58.18% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.41%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     43.70%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     23.12%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.00%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

97.04%

91.65%

  

  

    31.94%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.83%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 188   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Dividend Opportunity Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        58.89% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.46%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.89%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.71%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     37.98%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     27.13%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.13%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

65.06%

90.38%

  

  

    34.25%   
   

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     26.53%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 189   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        90.64% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     12.66%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.11%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     46.33%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     23.68%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.85%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     97.46%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 190   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Emerging Markets Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        65.56% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.64%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.09%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.65%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     38.82%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     27.86%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

96.86%

87.34%

  

  

    27.24%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     7.19%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.23%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 191   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Emerging Markets Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.06% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     60.18%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     28.18%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.79%        N/A   
 

MIDLAND NATIONAL LIFE INS CO

4350 WESTOWN PKWY

WEST DES MOINES IA 50266-1036

  Class 2     19.64%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     76.62%        N/A   
VP – Global Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        54.95% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     26.06%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     36.75%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     18.81%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.28%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

96.36%

94.25%

  

  

    34.68%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.75%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 192   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – High Yield Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  Class 1     100.00%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

96.05%

92.79%

  

  

    92.94%   
VP – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.73% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.77%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.87%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     41.30%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     28.92%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.21%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     95.85%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 193   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Income Opportunities Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        60.66% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.87%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.22%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     43.64%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     20.17%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.34%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

82.09%

92.90%

  

  

    26.28%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     7.73%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.12%        N/A   
VP – International Opportunity Fund  

INDEPENDENCE LIFE AND ANNUITY CO

C/O SUN LIFE FINANCIAL

PO BOX 9133

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9133

  Class 1     7.25%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

82.75%

93.06%

  

  

    89.25%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     6.74%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

 

Class 1

Class 2

   

 

83.18%

14.42%

  

  

    N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 194   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Invesco International Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.25% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.03%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.19%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     38.44%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.98%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.00%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     95.18%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 195   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        95.35% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.98%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.34%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     49.54%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.90%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     14.73%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     95.07%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 196   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        97.98% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     13.76%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.89%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.58%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     36.55%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     22.80%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.02%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     93.81%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.04%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 197   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Large Cap Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        77.31% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.13%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.50%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.20%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     37.75%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     26.40%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.59%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

55.38%

95.81%

  

  

    N/A   
 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     35.22%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO OF NEW YORK

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     5.51%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 198   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Large Core Quantitative Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        40.82% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.55%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.27%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.21%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     32.90%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     25.38%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.66%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

97.28%

91.53%

  

  

    53.00%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.85%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 199   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Limited Duration
Credit Fund
 

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        94.99% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.43%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.50%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     48.51%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     19.28%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     14.57%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     93.87%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.06%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 200   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Loomis Sayles
Growth Fund
 

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.78% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.01%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.89%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     37.42%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.56%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.18%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     96.77%        N/A   
VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     91.86%        91.86%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.69%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 201   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Marsico 21st Century Fund  

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT TWO

ATTN DAVID TEN BROECK

P O BOX 2999

HARTFORD CT 06104-2999

  Class 1     72.96%        N/A   
 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (US)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     90.93%        85.48%   
 

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     5.90%        N/A   
 

TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE CO RETIREMENT BUILDER VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT

4333 EDGEWOOD RD NE

ATTN FMD ACCOUNTING MS 4410

CEDAR RAPIDS IA 52499-0001

  Class 1     10.78%        N/A   
   

VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT OF ANCHOR NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO

2727-A ALLEN PARKWAY, 4-D1

ATTN: VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNTING

HOUSTON TX 77019-2107

  Class 1     15.49%        N/A   
VP – Marsico Focused Equities Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  Class 2     100.00%        N/A   
 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT TWO

ATTN DAVID TEN BROECK

P O BOX 2999

HARTFORD CT 06104-2999

  Class 1     45.47%        45.46%   
 

TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE CO RETIREMENT BUILDER VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT

4333 EDGEWOOD RD NE

ATTN FMD ACCOUNTING MS 4410

CEDAR RAPIDS IA 52499-0001

  Class 1     6.40%        N/A   
   

VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT OF ANCHOR NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO

2727-A ALLEN PARKWAY, 4-D1

ATTN: VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNTING

HOUSTON TX 77019-2107

  Class 1     47.17%        47.16%   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 202   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Marsico Growth Fund  

GE LIFE & ANNUITY ASSURANCE CO

ATTN VARIABLE ACCOUNTING

6610 W BROAD ST BLDG 3 5TH FL

RICHMOND VA 23230-1702

  Class 1     11.81%        N/A   
 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT TWO

ATTN DAVID TEN BROECK

P O BOX 2999

HARTFORD CT 06104-2999

  Class 1     8.67%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 1     69.73%        61.34%   
 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (US)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     91.79%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK (NY)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     6.64%        N/A   
VP – Marsico International Opportunities Fund  

GE LIFE & ANNUITY ASSURANCE CO

ATTN VARIABLE ACCOUNTING

6610 W BROAD ST BLDG 3 5TH FL

RICHMOND VA 23230-1702

  Class 2     38.35%        38.35%   
 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT TWO

ATTN DAVID TEN BROECK

P O BOX 2999

HARTFORD CT 06104-2999

  Class 2     12.02%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     31.91%        31.91%   
   

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (US)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     6.64%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 203   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – MFS Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        97.95% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.68%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.35%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.91%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     38.70%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     28.27%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.45%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     96.29%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 204   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        30.92% (a)  
 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT TWO

ATTN UIT OPERATIONS

P O BOX 2999

HARTFORD CT 06104-2999

  Class 1     9.32%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.72%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     45.27%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL

13 DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     29.11%        N/A   
 

KANSAS CITY LIFE INS

ATTN ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS-VARIABLE

PO BOX 219139

KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9139

  Class 2     56.46%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

35.79%

92.95%

  

  

    57.64%   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.77%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 205   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        72.75% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.03%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.58%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.90%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     39.49%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     23.90%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

97.49%

94.36%

  

  

    N/A   
VP – Moderate Portfolio  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

89.51%

80.83%

  

  

    83.87%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 4     13.38%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

5.58%

5.62%

  

  

    N/A   
VP – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

90.92%

83.03%

  

  

    86.12%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 4     11.52%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 4     5.21%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 206   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Moderately Conservative Portfolio  

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

89.75%

85.39%

  

  

    86.96%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 4     8.88%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 4

   

 

6.01%

5.66%

  

  

    N/A   
VP – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  Class 2     100.00%        95.57% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.19%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     25.17%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.68%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     31.13%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     12.92%        N/A   
   

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.48%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 207   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        94.80% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.80%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     47.23%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     34.78%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.04%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     96.66%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 208   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – NFJ Dividend Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        98.05% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.85%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.51%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.86%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     39.67%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     27.96%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.58%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     93.97%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     5.92%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 209   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.59% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.11%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.87%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     38.67%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.58%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.59%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     96.91%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 210   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        97.88% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.94%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     14.63%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.38%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.34%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     29.92%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.16%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     92.81%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.90%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 211   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Partners Small Cap Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        87.63% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.60%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     12.51%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.94%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     37.00%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     26.48%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.50%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

93.20%

78.56%

  

  

    N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     16.17%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     6.60%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 212   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Pyramis International Equity Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        97.73% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.50%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.65%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.63%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     34.01%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL

13 DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.67%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.53%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     94.55%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     5.26%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 213   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – S&P 500 Index Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  Class 1     100.00%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     90.12%        84.85%   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.29%        N/A   
 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     83.40%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO OF NEW YORK

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     13.15%        N/A   
VP – Select Large-Cap Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        85.78% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     17.77%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.81%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.97%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     30.94%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     24.69%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

98.04%

96.96%

  

  

    N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 214   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund  

ALLIANZ LIFE

ATTN SCOTT ALLEN

5701 GOLDEN HILLS DR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55416-1297

  Class 1     77.47%        31.70%   
 

KANSAS CITY LIFE INS

ATTN ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS-VARIABLE

PO BOX 219139

KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9139

  Class 2     10.93%        N/A   
 

MERRILL LYNCH LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT A

4333 EDGEWOOD RD NE # MS4410

CEDAR RAPIDS IA 52499-0001

  Class 1     13.45%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE

DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

23.63%

93.95%

  

  

    47.47%   
   

THE UNION CENTRAL LIFE INS CO

LINCOLN NE 68510-2234

  Class 2     49.95%        N/A   
VP – Seligman Global Technology Fund  

GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY

FBO TRILLIUM VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCT

8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2

GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002

  Class 1     78.50%        N/A   
 

GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY

FBO VARIABLE ANNUITY 2

8515 E ORCHARD RD # 2T2

GREENWOOD VLG CO 80111-5002

  Class 1     14.52%        N/A   
 

GUARDIAN INS & ANNUI B

3900 BURGESS PL

BETHLEHEM PA 18017-9097

  Class 2     51.55%        39.07%   
 

GUARDIAN INS & ANNUI L

3900 BURGESS PL

BETHLEHEM PA 18017-9097

  Class 2     26.31%        N/A   
   

JEFFERSON NATL LIFE

ATTN SEPARATE ACCTS

10350 ORMSBY PARK PL STE 600

LOUISVILLE KY 40223-6175

  Class 2     7.78%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 215   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Sit Dividend Growth Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        93.71% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.36%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.98%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.64%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     36.13%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     26.23%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.11%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

95.59%

86.59%

  

  

    N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     6.55%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     6.71%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 216   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        89.31% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     54.92%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     18.03%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     16.58%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     95.62%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 217   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        83.44% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.10%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     9.20%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     43.32%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     19.55%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.23%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

20.38%

86.17%

  

  

    N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION (AEL)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     8.14%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 3     5.26%        N/A   
 

SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     63.12%        N/A   
   

SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CO OF NEW YORK

ATTN ACCOUNTING CONTROL SC 3241

PO BOX 9134

WELLESLEY HILLS MA 02481-9134

  Class 2     10.91%        N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 218   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Victory Established Value Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        95.27% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWAY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     7.14%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     11.75%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     10.32%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     42.22%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     21.02%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     5.69%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

 

Class 2

Class 3

   

 

95.03%

95.86%

  

  

    N/A   

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 219   


Table of Contents
       

Fund Shares

       
Fund   Shareholder Name and Address   Share Class   Percentage
of Class
    Percent of Fund
(if greater
than 25%)
 
VP – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund  

COLUMBIA MGMT INVESTMENT ADVSR LLC

ATTN AKSHAY RAJPUT

50807 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0508

  N/A     N/A        97.83% (a)  
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

COLUMBIA VP-MANAGED VOLATILITY MODERATE GROWTH FUND

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     6.01%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     8.06%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     46.19%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     22.06%        N/A   
 

JPMCB NA CUST FOR

VP MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE

14201 N DALLAS PKWY FL 13

DALLAS TX 75254-2916

  Class 1     15.62%        N/A   
 

RIVERSOURCE LIFE ACCOUNT FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     90.02%        N/A   
   

RIVERSOURCE LIFE NY FOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTION (LIFE OF NY)

222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002

  Class 2     9.77%        N/A   

 

(a) A combination of investments made by the Investment Manager and/or by other Funds managed by the Investment Manager.

RiverSource Life Account for Inside Distribution (RiverSource Life Insurance Company) is a Minnesota corporation. RiverSource Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) is a Delaware corporation. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial.

Hartford Life Insurance Company is a Connecticut Corporation. Hartford Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

American General Life Insurance Company (formerly, Anchor National Life Insurance Company) is a Texas corporation. American General Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Internal Group, Inc. (AIG).

Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company (formerly, GE Life & Annuity Assurance Co.) is a Virginia corporation. Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genworth Financial, Inc.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) is a Minnesota Corporation. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allianz SE.

The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (Guardian Ins. & Annuity) is a Delaware corporation. Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.

The Investment Manager, a Minnesota limited liability company, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Other Columbia Funds managed by the Investment Manager may hold more than 25% of a Fund.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 220   


Table of Contents

INFORMATION REGARDING PENDING AND SETTLED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In December 2005, without admitting or denying the allegations, American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC, which is now known as Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial)) entered into settlement agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDOC) related to market timing activities. As a result, AEFC was censured and ordered to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of certain provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and various Minnesota laws. AEFC agreed to pay disgorgement of $10 million and civil money penalties of $7 million. AEFC also agreed to retain an independent distribution consultant to assist in developing a plan for distribution of all disgorgement and civil penalties ordered by the SEC in accordance with various undertakings detailed at http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/ia-2451.pdf. Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates have cooperated with the SEC and the MDOC in these legal proceedings, and have made regular reports to the Funds’ Board of Trustees.

Ameriprise Financial and certain of its affiliates have historically been involved in a number of legal, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including routine litigation, class actions, and governmental actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their business activities. Ameriprise Financial believes that the Funds are not currently the subject of, and that neither Ameriprise Financial nor any of its affiliates are the subject of, any pending legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds. Ameriprise Financial is required to make 10-Q, 10-K and, as necessary, 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on legal and regulatory matters that relate to Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates. Copies of these filings may be obtained by accessing the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares or other adverse consequences to the Funds. Further, although we believe proceedings are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Funds or the ability of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates to perform under their contracts with the Funds, these proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, we are unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result. An adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other relief that could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of Ameriprise Financial.

 

Columbia Variable Portfolio Funds – Statement of Additional Information – May 1, 2014      Page 221   


Table of Contents

Appendix A

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Long-Term Debt Ratings

A Standard & Poor’s corporate or municipal debt rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of such information or based on other circumstances.

The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

   

Likelihood of default capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.

 

   

Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

 

   

Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Investment Grade

Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in a small degree.

Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.

Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher-rated categories.

Speculative Grade

Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category also is used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating.

Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category also is used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category also is used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

Debt rated CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.

 

 

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Debt rated C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.

Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.

Moody’s Long-Term Debt Ratings

Aaa – Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa – Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present that make the long-term risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

A – Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to impairment some time in the future.

Baa – Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Ba – Bonds that are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements — their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B – Bonds that are rated B generally lack characteristics of a desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa – Bonds that are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca – Bonds that are rated Ca represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C – Bonds that are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Fitch’s Long-Term Debt Ratings

Fitch’s bond ratings provide a guide to investors in determining the credit risk associated with a particular security. The ratings represent Fitch’s assessment of the issuer’s ability to meet the obligations of a specific debt issue in a timely manner.

The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor, as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the issuer’s future financial strength and credit quality.

Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be provided by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise indicated.

Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature of taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be reliable. Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such information. Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

 

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Investment Grade

AAA: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.

A: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB: Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds and, therefore, impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.

Speculative Grade

BB: Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified, which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

B: Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor’s limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC: Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics that, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

CC: Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.

C: Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

DDD, DD, and D: Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or reorganization of the obligor. DDD represents the highest potential for recovery on these bonds, and D represents the lowest potential for recovery.

SHORT-TERM RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Commercial Paper Ratings

A Standard & Poor’s commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant market.

Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from A-1 for the highest quality obligations to D for the lowest. These categories are as follows:

 

A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

 

A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

 

A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment. They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

 

B Issues are regarded as having only speculative capacity for timely payment.

 

C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful capacity for payment.

 

D Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.

 

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Standard & Poor’s Muni Bond and Note Ratings

An S&P municipal bond or note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access risks unique to these instruments. Notes maturing in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.

Note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Issues determined to possess very strong characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

Municipal bond rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

Standard & Poor’s rating SP-1 indicates very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.

Standard & Poor’s rating SP-2 indicates satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

Standard & Poor’s rating SP-3 indicates speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

Moody’s Short-Term Ratings

Moody’s short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations. These obligations have an original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

Issuers rated Prime-l (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-l repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: (i) leading market positions in well-established industries, (ii) high rates of return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Moody’s Short-Term Muni Bonds and Notes

Short-term municipal bonds and notes are rated by Moody’s. The ratings reflect the liquidity concerns and market access risks unique to notes.

Moody’s MIG 1/VMIG 1 indicates the best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

Moody’s MIG 2/VMIG 2 indicates high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

Moody’s MIG 3/VMIG 3 indicates favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

Moody’s MIG 4/VMIG 4 indicates adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

 

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Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

Fitch’s short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes. The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer’s obligations in a timely manner.

Fitch short-term ratings are as follows:

F-1+: Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

F-1: Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.

F-2: Good Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating have a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment, but the margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned F-1+ and F-1 ratings.

F-3: Fair Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse changes could cause these securities to be rated below investment grade.

F-S: Weak Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance for timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

D: Default. Issues assigned this rating are in actual or imminent payment default.

 

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Appendix B

S&P 500 Index Fund

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE S&P 500 INDEX

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the shareholders of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the S&P 500 Index to track general stock market performance. S&P’s only relationship to the Fund is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the S&P 500 Index, which are determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the Fund. S&P has no obligation to take the needs of the Fund or its shareholders into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500 Index. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund’s shares are to be converted into cash. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of Fund shares.

S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P 500 INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN (THE S&P INDEX) AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FUND, ITS SHAREHOLDERS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

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Appendix C

Proxy Voting Policy

 

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective January 1, 2012

Set forth on the following pages are guidelines adopted and used by the Funds listed on the cover page of the Statement of Additional Information to which these Guidelines are appended. These Funds are governed by the same Board of Trustees (the “Board”, “We”, “Us” or “Our”) and guide the Board in voting proxies on behalf of the Funds (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines are organized by issue and present certain factors that may be considered in making proxy voting determinations. The Board may, in exercising its fiduciary discretion, determine to vote any proxy in a manner contrary to these Guidelines.

 

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Directors, Boards, Committees

Elect Directors

In a routine election of directors, the Board generally votes FOR the slate nominated by the nominating committee of independent directors, who are in the best position to know what qualifications are needed for each director to contribute to an effective board. The Board generally will WITHHOLD support from a nominee who fails to meet one or more of the following criteria:

Independence  – A nominee who is deemed an affiliate of the company by virtue of a material business, familial or other relationship with the company but is otherwise not an employee.

Attendance  – A nominee who failed to attend at least 75% of the board’s meetings.

Over Boarding  – A nominee who serves on more than four other public company boards or an employee director nominee who serves on more than two other public company boards.

Committee Membership  – A nominee who has been assigned to the audit, compensation, nominating, or governance committee if that nominee is not independent of management, or if the nominee does not meet the specific independence and experience requirements for audit committees or the independence requirements for compensation committees.

Audit Committee Chair  – A nominee who serves as audit committee chair where the committee failed to put forth shareholder proposals for ratification of auditors.

Board Independence  – A nominee of a company whose board as proposed to be constituted would have more than one-third of its members from management.

Interlocking Directorship  – A nominee who is an executive officer of another company on whose board one of the company’s executive officers sits.

Poor Governance  – A nominee involved with options backdating, financial restatements or material weakness in controls, approving egregious compensation, or who has consistently disregarded the interests of shareholders.

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on any director nominee who meets the aforementioned criteria but whose candidacy has otherwise been identified by the third party research provider as needing further consideration for any reason not identified above.

In the case of contested elections, the Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into consideration the above criteria and other factors such as the background of the proxy contest, the performance of the company, current board and management, and qualifications of nominees on both slates.

Shareholder Nominations for Director

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for shareholder-nominated candidates for director, taking into account various factors including, but not limited to: company performance, the circumstances compelling the nomination by the shareholder, composition of the incumbent board, and the criteria listed above the Board uses to evaluate nominees.

Shareholder Nominations for Director – Special Criteria

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which are typically based on the view that board nominating committees are responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding the composition of the board and are therefore in the best position to make determinations with respect to special nominating criteria.

Director Independence and Committees

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals that require all members of a board’s key committees (audit, compensation, nominating or governance) be independent from management.

Independent Board Chair / Lead Director

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals supporting an independent board chair or lead director and FOR the separation of the board chair and CEO roles, as independent board leaders foster the effectiveness of the independent directors and ensure appropriate oversight of management.

 

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Removal of Directors

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals that amend governing documents to grant or restore shareholder ability to remove directors with cause, and AGAINST proposals that provide directors may be removed only by supermajority vote. The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals calling for removal of specific directors.

Board Vacancies

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider in the case of vacancies filled by continuing directors, taking into account factors including whether the proposal is in connection with a proxy contest or takeover situation.

Cumulative Voting

In the absence of proxy access rights or majority voting, the Board generally will vote FOR the restoration or provision for cumulative voting and AGAINST its elimination.

Majority Voting

The Board generally will vote FOR amendments to governing documents that provide that nominees standing for election to the board must receive a majority of votes cast in order to be elected to the board.

Number of Directors

The Board generally will vote FOR amendments to governing documents that provide directors the authority to adjust the size of the board to adapt to needs that may arise.

Term Limits

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to establish a limit on director terms or mandatory retirement.

General Corporate Governance

Right to Call a Special Meeting

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR adoption, considering factors such as proposed ownership threshold, company size, and shareholder ownership, but will not support proposals allowing for investors with less than 10% ownership to call a special meeting.

Eliminate or Restrict Right to Call Special Meeting

The Board will generally vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate the right of shareholders to call special meetings.

Lead Independent Director Right to Call Special Meeting

The Board will generally vote FOR governance document amendments or other proposals which give the lead independent director the authority to call special meetings of the independent directors at any time.

Adjourn Meeting

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on adjournment proposals and generally in the same direction as the primary proposal (i.e., if supporting the primary proposal, favor adjournment; if not supporting the primary proposal, oppose adjournment).

Other Business

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to give management the authority to conduct or vote on other business at shareholder meetings on the grounds that shareholders not present at the meeting would be unfairly excluded from such deliberations.

Eliminate or Restrict Action by Written Consent

The Board will generally vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent since it may be appropriate to take such action in some instances.

 

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Vote Unmarked Proxies

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals prohibiting voting of unmarked proxies in favor of management.

Proxy Contest Advance Notice

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals to amend governing documents that require advance notice for shareholder proposals or director nominees beyond notice that allows for sufficient time for company response, SEC review, and analysis by other shareholders.

Minimum Stock Ownership

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals regarding minimum stock ownership levels.

Director and Officer Indemnification

The Board will generally vote FOR the provision of a maximum dollar amount that can be obtained through the course of legal action from a director or officer who acts in good faith and does not benefit from a transaction.

Confidential Voting

The Board generally will vote FOR actions that ensure all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations which identify shareholders be kept confidential, except where disclosure is mandated by law. The Board supports the proposal to minimize pressure on shareholders, particularly employee shareholders.

Miscellaneous Governing Document Amendments

The Board generally will vote FOR bylaw or charter changes that are of a housekeeping nature (e.g., updates or corrections).

Change Company Name

The Board will generally vote FOR routine business matters such as changing the company’s name.

Approve Minutes

The Board will generally vote FOR routine procedural matters such as approving the minutes of a prior meeting.

Change Date/Time/Location of Annual Meeting

The Board will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the third-party research provider on proposals to change the date, time or location of the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.

Approve Annual, Financial and Statutory Reports

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to approve the annual reports and accounts, financial and statutory reports, provided companies required to comply with U.S. securities laws have included the certifications required by the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

Compensation

Approve or Amend Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR adoption or amendments to omnibus (general) equity compensation plans for employees or non-employee directors if they are reasonable and consistent with industry and country standards, and AGAINST compensation plans that substantially dilute ownership interest in a company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have objectionable structural features.

Approve or Amend Stock Option Plan

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which are typically based on factors including cost, size, and pattern of grants in comparison to peer groups, history of repricing, and grants to senior executives and non-employee directors.

 

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Approve or Amend Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which are typically based on factors including the plan’s cost to shareholders, whether those costs are in line with the company’s peer’s plans, and whether the plan requires shareholder approval within five years.

Approve or Amend Performance-Based 162(m) Compensation Plan

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which are typically based on factors that consider the goal of the plan and in particular the linkage between potential payments to senior executives and the attainment of preset performance-based metrics.

Approve or Amend Restricted Stock Plan

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which considers such factors as the balance of all equity grants and awards, the term and other restrictions in place for restricted stock.

Stock Option Repricing or Exchanges

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider on matters relating to the repricing of stock options, which are typically based on factors such as whether the amending terms lead to a reduction in shareholder rights, allow the plan to be amended without shareholder approval, or change the terms to the detriment of employee incentives such as excluding a certain class or group of employees. The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to put stock option repricings to a shareholder vote.

Performance-Based Stock Options

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals urging that stock options be performance-based rather than tied to the vagaries of the stock market.

Ban Future Stock Option Grants

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking to ban or eliminate stock options in equity compensation plans as such an action would preclude the company from offering a balanced compensation program.

Require Stock Retention Period

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requiring senior executives to hold stock obtained by way of a stock option plan for a minimum of three years.

Require Approval of Extraordinary Benefits

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals specifying that companies disclose any extraordinary benefits paid or payable to current or retired senior executives and generally will vote AGAINST proposals requiring shareholder approval of any such extraordinary benefits.

Pay for Performance

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals seeking to align executive compensation with shareholders’ interests.

Say on Pay

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, taking into consideration the company’s pay for performance results and certain elements of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis disclosure and pay for performance practices of the company.

Executive Severance Agreements

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider on these proposals regarding approval of specific executive severance arrangements in the event of change in control of a company or due to other circumstances.

 

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Approve or Amend Deferred Compensation Plans for Directors

The Board generally will vote FOR approval or amendments to deferred compensation plans for non-employee directors, so that they may defer compensation earned until retirement.

Set Director Compensation

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals that seek to limit director compensation or mandate that compensation be paid solely in shares of stock.

Director Retirement Plans

The Board will generally vote AGAINST the adoption or amendment of director retirement plans on the basis that directors should be appropriately compensated while serving and should not view service on a board as a long-term continuing relationship with a company.

Business Entity and Capitalization

Common or Preferred Stock – Increase in Authorized Shares or Classes

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding proposals to increase authorized shares of common stock or to add a class of common stock, taking into consideration the company’s capital goals that may include stock splits, stock dividends, or financing for acquisitions or general operations. With respect to proposals seeking to increase authorized shares of preferred stock, to add a class of preferred stock, to authorize the directors to set the terms of the preferred stock or to amend the number of votes per share of preferred stock, The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on the grounds that such actions may be connected to a shareholder rights’ plan that the Board also will consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Common or Preferred Stock – Decrease in Authorized Shares or Classes

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals seeking to decrease authorized shares of common or preferred stock or the elimination of a class of common or preferred stock.

Common Stock – Change in Par Value

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to change the par value of the common stock, provided that the changes do not cause a diminution in shareholder rights.

Authorize Share Repurchase Program

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to institute or renew open market share repurchase plans in which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.

Stock Splits

The Board generally will vote FOR stock split proposals on the grounds that they intended to encourage stock ownership of a company.

Private Placements, Conversion of Securities, Issuance of Warrants or Convertible Debentures

The Board will generally vote FOR the issuance of shares for private placements, the conversion of securities from one class to another, and the issuance of warrants or convertible debentures on the grounds that such issuances may be necessary and beneficial for the financial health of the company and may be a low cost source of equity capital. The Board will generally vote AGAINST any such issuance or related action if the proposal would in any way result in new equity holders having superior voting rights, would result in warrants or debentures, when exercised, holding in excess of 20 percent of the currently outstanding voting rights, or if the proposal would in any way diminish the rights of existing shareholders.

Issuance of Equity or Equity-Linked Securities without Subscription Rights (Preemptive Rights)

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals that seek shareholder approval of the issuance of equity, convertible bonds or other equity-linked debt instruments, or to issue shares to satisfy the exercise of such securities that are free of subscription (preemptive) rights on the grounds that companies must retain the ability to issue such securities for purposes of raising capital. The Board generally will vote AGAINST any proposal where dilution exceeds 20 percent of the company’s outstanding capital.

 

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Recapitalization

The Board generally will vote FOR recapitalization plans that combine two or more classes of stock into one class, or that authorize the company to issue new common or preferred stock for such plans. The Board generally will vote AGAINST recapitalization plans that would result in the diminution of rights for existing shareholders.

Merger Agreement

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals seeking approval of a merger or merger agreement and all proposals related to such primary proposals, taking into consideration the particular facts and circumstances of the proposed merger and its potential benefits to existing shareholders.

Going Private

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals that allow listed companies to de-list and terminate registration of their common stock, taking into consideration the cash-out value to shareholders, and weighing the value in continuing as a publicly traded entity.

Reincorporation

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on reincorporation proposals, taking into consideration whether financial benefits (e.g., reduced fees or taxes) likely to accrue to the company as a result of a reincorporation or other change of domicile outweigh any accompanying material diminution of shareholder rights. The Board will generally vote AGAINST the proposal unless the long-term business reasons for doing so are valid. The Board will generally vote FOR proposals to consider reincorporating in the United States if a company left the country for the purpose of avoiding taxes.

Bundled Proposals

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider on “bundled” or otherwise conditioned proposals, which are determined depending on the overall economic effects to shareholders.

Defense Mechanisms

Shareholder Rights’ Plan (Poison Pill)

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis regarding management proposals seeking ratification of a shareholder rights’ plan, including a net operating loss (NOL) shareholder rights’ plan, or stockholder proposals seeking modification or elimination of any existing shareholder rights’ plan.

Supermajority Voting

The Board generally will vote FOR the elimination or material diminution of provisions in company governing documents that require the affirmative vote of a supermajority of shareholders for approval of certain actions, and generally will vote AGAINST the adoption of any supermajority voting clause.

Control Share Acquisition Provisions

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes and will generally vote AGAINST proposals seeking approval of control share acquisition provisions in company governing documents on the grounds that such provisions may harm long-term share value by effectively entrenching management. The ability to buy shares should not be constrained by requirements to secure approval of the purchase from other shareholders.

Anti-Greenmail

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to adopt anti-greenmail governing document amendments or to otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.

Classification of Board of Directors

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals to declassify a board and AGAINST proposals to classify a board, absent special circumstances that would indicate that shareholder interests are better served by voting to the contrary.

 

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Auditors

Ratify or Appoint Auditors

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR ratification or appointment except in situations where there are questions about the relative qualification of the auditors, conflicts of interest, auditor involvement in significant financial restatements, option backdating, material weaknesses in controls or situations where independence has been compromised.

Prohibit or Limit Auditor’s Non-Audit Services

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically recommends votes AGAINST these proposals since it may be necessary or appropriate for auditors to provide a service related to the business of a company and that service will not compromise the auditors’ independence. In addition, Sarbanes-Oxley legislation spells out the types of services that need pre-approval or would compromise independence.

Indemnification of External Auditor

The Board will generally vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors on the grounds that indemnification agreements may limit pursuit of legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Indemnification of Internal Auditor

The Board will generally vote FOR the indemnification of internal auditors, unless the costs associated with the approval are not disclosed.

Social and Environmental

Disclose Social Agenda

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals that seek disclosure, often in the form of a report, on items such as military contracts or sales, environmental or conservation initiatives, business relationships with foreign countries, or animal welfare for the following reasons: a) our clients are likely to have different views of what is a socially responsible policy, b) whether social responsibility issues other than those mandated by law should be the subject of corporate policy, or c) because the impact of such disclosure on share value can rarely be anticipated with any degree of confidence.

Socially Responsible Investing

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals that seek to have a company take a position on social or environmental issues, for the reasons cited under ‘Disclose Social Agenda’ above.

Prohibit or Disclose Contributions and Lobbying Expenses

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically considers the proposal in the context of the company’s current disclosures, Federal and state laws, and whether the proposal is in shareholders’ best interests.

Disclose Prior Government Service

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals seeking the company to furnish a list of high-ranking employees who served in any governmental capacity over the last five years.

Change in Operations or Products Manufactured or Sold

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals seeking to change the way a company operates (e.g., protect human rights, sexual orientation, stop selling tobacco products, move manufacturing operations to another country, etc.) .

Executive Compensation Report

The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals seeking companies to issue a report on linkages between executive compensation and financial, environmental and social performance on the grounds that executive compensation is a business matter for the company’s board to consider.

 

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Pay Equity

The Board will generally vote AGAINST proposals seeking a cap on the total pay and other compensation of its executive officers to no more than a specified multiple of the pay of the average employee of the company.

Foreign Issues

Foreign Issues- Directors, Boards, Committees

Approve Discharge of Management (Supervisory) Board

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider, which typically recommends votes FOR approval of the board, based on factors including whether there is an unresolved investigation or whether the board has participated in wrongdoing. This is a standard request in Germany and discharge is generally granted unless a shareholder states a specific reason for withholding discharge and intends to take legal action.

Announce Vacancies on Management (Supervisory) Board

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to announce vacancies on the board, as is required under Dutch law.

Approve Director Fees

The Board generally votes in accordance with recommendations made by its third party research provider on proposals seeking approval of director fees.

Foreign Issues- General Corporate Governance

Digitalization of Certificates

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals seeking shareholder approval to amend a company’s articles of incorporation to eliminate references to share certificates and beneficial owners, and to make other related changes to bring the articles in line with recent regulatory changes for Japanese companies.

Authorize Filing of Required Documents and Other Formalities

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders authorize the holder of a copy of the minutes of the general assembly to accomplish any formalities required by law, as is required in France.

Propose Publications Media

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve the designation of a newspaper as the medium to publish the company’s meeting notice, as is common in Chile and other countries.

Clarify Articles of Association or Incorporation

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals seeking shareholder approval of routine housekeeping of the company’s articles, including clarifying items and deleting obsolete items.

Update Articles of Association or Incorporation with Proxy Results

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve changes to the company’s articles of association or incorporation to reflect the results of a proxy vote by shareholders, which is a routine proposal in certain country’s proxies.

Conform Articles of Association or Incorporation to Law or Stock Exchange

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to amend the articles of association or incorporation to conform to new requirements in local or national law or rules established by a stock exchange on which its stock is listed.

 

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Authorize Board to Ratify and Execute Approved Resolutions

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to authorize the board to ratify and execute any resolutions approved at the meeting.

Prepare and Approve List of Shareholders

The Board generally votes FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval for the preparation and approval of the list of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, which is a routine formality in European countries.

Authorize Company to Engage in Transactions with Related Parties

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval for the company, its subsidiaries, and target associated companies to enter into certain transactions with persons who are considered “interested parties” as defined in Chapter 9A of the Listing Manual of the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES), as the SES related-party transaction rules are fairly comprehensive and provide shareholders with substantial protection against insider trading abuses.

Amend Articles to Lower Quorum Requirement for Special Business

The Board generally will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals seeking to amend the articles to lower the quorum requirement to one-third for special business resolutions at a shareholder meeting, which is common when certain material transactions such as mergers or acquisitions are to be considered by shareholders.

Change Date/Location of Annual Meeting

The Board will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the third-party research provider on proposals to change the date, time or location of the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.

Elect Chairman of the Meeting

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to elect the chairman of the meeting, which is a routine meeting formality in certain European countries.

Authorize New Product Lines

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to amend the company’s articles to allow the company to expand into new lines of business.

Approve Financial Statements, Directors’ Reports and Auditors’ Reports

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals that request shareholder approval of the financial statements, directors’ reports, and auditors’ reports.

Foreign Issues- Compensation

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/Statutory Auditors

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals requesting shareholder approval for the payment of retirement bonuses to retiring directors and/or statutory auditors, which is a standard request in Japan, because information to justify the proposal is typically insufficient.

Approve Payment to Deceased Director’s/Statutory Auditor’s Family

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals requesting shareholder approval for the payment of a retirement bonus to the family of a deceased director or statutory auditor, which is a standard request in Japan, because information to justify the proposal is typically insufficient.

Foreign Issues- Business Entity, Capitalization

Set or Approve the Dividend

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve the dividend rate set by management.

 

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Approve Allocation of Income and Dividends

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders approve a board’s allocation of income for the current fiscal year, as well as the dividend rate.

Approve Scrip (Stock) Dividend Alternative

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders authorize dividend payments in the form of either cash or shares at the discretion of each shareholder, provided the options are financially equal. The Board generally will vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.

Authorize Issuance of Equity or Equity-Linked Securities

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to permit the board to authorize the company to issue convertible bonds or other equity-linked debt instruments or to issue shares to satisfy the exercise of such securities.

Authorize Issuance of Bonds

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval granting the authority to the board to issue bonds or subordinated bonds.

Authorize Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issue or Increase in Par Value

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to increase authorized stock by capitalizing various reserves or retained earnings, which allows shareholders to receive either new shares or a boost in the par value of their shares at no cost.

Increase Issued Capital for Rights Issue

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to increase to issued capital in order to offer a rights issue to current registered shareholders, which provides shareholders the option of purchasing additional shares of the company’s stock, often at a discount to market value, and the company will use the proceeds from the issue to provide additional financing.

Board Authority to Repurchase Shares

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that a board be given the authority to repurchase shares of the company on the open market, with such authority continuing until the next annual meeting.

Authorize Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to reissue shares of the company’s stock that had been repurchased by the company at an earlier date.

Approve Payment of Corporate Income Tax

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals seeking approval for the use by a company of its reserves in order to pay corporate taxes, which is common practice in Europe.

Cancel Pre-Approved Capital Issuance Authority

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholders cancel a previously approved authority to issue capital, which may be necessary in Denmark as companies there do not have authorized but unissued capital that they may issue as needed like their counterparts in other countries.

Allotment of Unissued Shares

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that shareholders give the board the authority to allot or issue unissued shares.

 

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Authority to Allot Shares for Cash

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting that shareholders give the board the ability to allot a set number of authorized but unissued shares for the purpose of employee share schemes and to allot equity securities for cash to persons other than existing shareholders up to a limited aggregate nominal amount (a percentage of the issued share capital of the company).

Foreign Issues- Defense Mechanisms

Authorize Board to Use All Outstanding Capital

The Board will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals requesting shareholders authorize the board, for one year, to use all outstanding capital authorizations in the event that a hostile public tender or exchange offer is made for the company, which is a common anti-takeover measure in France similar to the way U.S. companies use preferred stock.

Foreign Issues- Auditors

Approve Special Auditors’ Report

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals that present shareholders of French companies, as required by French law, with a special auditor’s report that confirms the presence or absence of any outstanding related party transactions. At a minimum, such transactions (with directors or similar parties) must be previously authorized by the board. This part of the French commercial code provides shareholders with a mechanism to ensure an annual review of any outstanding related party transactions.

Appoint Statutory Auditor

The Board generally will vote FOR proposals requesting shareholder approval to appoint the internal statutory auditor, designated as independent internal auditor as required by the revised Japanese Commercial Code.

Foreign Issues- Social and Environmental

Authorize Company to Make EU Political Organization Donations

The Board generally will ABSTAIN from voting on proposals that seek authorization for the company to make EU political organization donations and to incur EU political expenditures.

S-6466-20 AJ (5/14)

 

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PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)(1)

   Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 11, 2007, filed electronically on or about September 28, 2007 as Exhibit (a)(1) to Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(2)

   Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 9, 2008, filed electronically on or about April 21, 2008 as Exhibit (a)(2) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(3)

   Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 8, 2009, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2009 as Exhibit (a)(3) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(4)

   Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 14, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 14, 2010 as Exhibit (a)(4) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(5)

   Amendment No. 5 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 6, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2010 as Exhibit (a)(5) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(6)

   Amendment No. 6 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective November 11, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (a)(6) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(7)

   Amendment No. 7 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 13, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (a)(7) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(8)

   Amendment No. 8 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 15, 2011, filed electronically on or about March 2, 2012 as Exhibit (a)(8) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(9)

   Amendment No. 9 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 12, 2012, filed electronically on or about March 2, 2012 as Exhibit (a)(9) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(10)

   Amendment No. 10 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective June 14, 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (a)(10) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(11)

   Amendment No. 11 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective September 13, 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (a)(11) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(12)

   Amendment No. 12 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective January 16, 2013, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (a)(12) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(a)(13)

   Amendment No. 13 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 17, 2013, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (a)(13) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.


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(a)(14)

   Amendment No. 14 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 11, 2014, is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (a)(14) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(b)

   By-laws filed electronically on or about September 28, 2007 as Exhibit (b) to Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 333-146374 are incorporated by reference.

(c)

   Stock Certificate: Not Applicable.

(d)(1)

   Investment Management Services Agreement, dated March 1, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Registrant is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (d)(1) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(d)(2)

   Schedule A, as of April 11, 2014, to the Investment Management Services Agreement, dated March 1, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Registrant is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (d)(2) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(d)(3)

   Form of Subadvisory Agreement between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and a Subadviser filed electronically on or about April 14, 2010 as Exhibit (d)(2) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(4)

   Subadvisory Agreement, dated June 11, 2008, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, filed electronically on or about October 29, 2008 as Exhibit (d)(3) to RiverSource Global Series, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to Registration Statement No. 33-25824 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(5)

   Amendment One to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated July 13, 2009, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited filed electronically on or about December 29, 2009 as Exhibit (d)(4) to RiverSource International Series, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 2-92309 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(6)

   Amendment Two to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated March 30, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (d)(5) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(7)

   Amendment Three to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated July 1, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, filed electronically on or about August 29, 2011 as Exhibit (d)(6) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(8)

   Amendment Four to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated July 19, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, filed electronically on or about August 29, 2011 as Exhibit (d)(7) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(9)

   Addendum to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated July 19, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, filed electronically on or about August 29, 2011 as Exhibit (d)(8) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(d)(10)

   Amendment Five to Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement, dated January 16, 2013, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Threadneedle International Limited, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (d)(9) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.


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(e)(1)

   Distribution Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (e)(1) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(e)(2)

   Schedule I, dated April 11, 2014, and Schedule II, dated September 7, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., are filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (e)(2) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(f)

   Deferred Compensation Plan, adopted as of December 31, 2011, filed electronically on or about February 24, 2012 as Exhibit (f) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(g)

   Form of Master Global Custody Agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. filed electronically on or about December 23, 2008 as Exhibit (g) to RiverSource International Managers, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to Registration Statement No. 333-64010 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(1)

   Administrative Services Agreement, dated January 1, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, filed electronically on April 23, 2014 as Exhibit (h)(1) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(2)

   Schedule A and Schedule B, as of April 21, 2014, to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated January 1, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, filed electronically on April 23, 2014 as Exhibit (h)(2) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 are incorporated by reference.

(h)(3)

   Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (h)(3) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(h)(4)

   Schedule A and Schedule B, dated April 17, 2013, to the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., are filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (h)(4) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(h)(5)

   Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement, dated April 12, 2012, by and among the Registrant, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., filed electronically on April 23, 2014 as Exhibit (h)(7) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(6)

   Schedule A, as of April 21, 2014, to the Fee Waiver and Expense Cap Agreement, dated April 12, 2012, by and among the Registrant, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., filed electronically on April 23, 2014 as Exhibit (h)(8) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(7)

   Form of License Agreement, dated July 10, 2004, between Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited and the Registrant filed electronically on or about December 24, 2008 as Exhibit (h)(10) to RiverSource Global Series, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to Registration Statement No. 33-25824 is incorporated by reference.


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(h)(8)

   Form of License Agreement Amendment, dated May 15, 2008, between Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited and RiverSource Global Series, Inc., RiverSource International Series, Inc. and RiverSource Variable Series Trust filed electronically on or about June 30, 2008 as Exhibit (h)(10) to RiverSource Global Series, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to Registration Statement No. 33-25824 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(9)

   Form of License Agreement Amendment between Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited and RiverSource Global Series, Inc., RiverSource International Series, Inc. and RiverSource Variable Series Trust filed electronically on or about July 8, 2009 as Exhibit (h)(10) to RiverSource International Series, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to Registration Statement No. 2-92309 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(10)

   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated September 11, 2007, between RiverSource Variable Portfolio Funds, each a series of a Minnesota corporation, and corresponding RiverSource Variable Portfolio Funds, each a series of RiverSource Variable Portfolio Trust, now known as Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, a Massachusetts business trust, and between RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Core Bond Fund, a series of RiverSource Variable Series Trust, and RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund, a series of RiverSource Variable Series Trust, now known as Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, filed electronically on or about April 21, 2008 as Exhibit (a)(5) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(11)

   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated December 20, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (h)(9) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(h)(12)

   Agreement and Plan of Redomiciling, dated December 20, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (h)(10) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(i)

   Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered is filed electronically herewith.

(j)

   Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) are filed electronically herewith.

(k)

   Omitted Financial Statements: Not Applicable.

(l)

   Initial Capital Agreement: Not Applicable.

(m)(1)

   Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution , effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (m)(1) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(m)(2)

   Schedule A, dated April 11, 2014, to the Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution, effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (m)(2) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(n)

   Rule 18f – 3(d) Plan is filed electronically herewith as Exhibit (n) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374.

(o)

   Reserved.

(p)(1)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Registrant filed electronically on or about May 30, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(1) to Columbia Funds Series Trust II Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 to Registration Statement No. 333-131683 is incorporated by reference.


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(p)(2)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Registrant’s investment adviser and principal underwriter, dated July 1, 2013, filed electronically on or about July 29, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(2) to Columbia Funds Series Trust’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 to Registration Statement No. 333-89661 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(3)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value and Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Funds’ Subadviser Donald Smith & Co., Inc., adopted January 1, 2005, revised March 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(4) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(4)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value and Variable Portfolio – Small Cap Value Funds’ Subadviser Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC, dated December 31, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(5) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(5)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund’s Subadviser River Road Asset Management, LLC, dated January 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(6) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(6)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund’s Subadviser Denver Investment Advisors LLC effective January 11, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (p)(7) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(7)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Columbia Multi-Advisor Small Cap Value and Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Funds’ Subadviser Turner Investments, L.P., dated February 1, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(8) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(8)

   Code of Ethics, dated November 30, 2009, adopted under Rule 17j-1, for Columbia Asia Pacific ex-Japan, Columbia Commodity Strategy, Columbia European Equity, Columbia Global Equity, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy and Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Funds’ Subadviser Threadneedle International Ltd., filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (p)(9) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(9)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund’s Subadviser American Century Investment Management, Inc., dated January 1, 2009, filed electronically on or about April 14, 2010 as Exhibit (p)(11) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(10)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund’s Subadviser Invesco Advisers, Inc., dated January 1, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(11) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(11)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund’s Subadviser Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., dated September 17, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (p)(12) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(12)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund’s Subadviser Massachusetts Financial Services Company, dated February 22, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (p)(13) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.


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(p)(13)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund’s Subadviser J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., dated February 1, 2005, amended July 15, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(14) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(14)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund’s Subadviser NFJ Investment Group LLC, dated October 1, 2009, filed electronically on or about April 14, 2010 as Exhibit (p)(16) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(15)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund’s Subadviser The London Company of Virginia dated, April 7, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(18) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(16)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth and Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Funds’ Subadviser Wells Capital Management Incorporated dated April 1, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 29, 2011 as Exhibit (p)(19) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(17)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund’s Subadviser Winslow Capital Management, LLC., dated January 1, 2011, amended August 15, 2011 filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(20) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(18)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund’s Subadviser Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P., dated October 23, 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(19) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(19)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund’s Subadviser Mondrian Investment Partners Limited, dated January 1, 2007, filed electronically on or about April 14, 2010 as Exhibit (p)(24) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(20)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund’s Subadviser Eaton Vance Management, dated June 1, 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(21) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(21)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities and Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Funds’ Subadviser Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLC, dated October 12, 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(22) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(22)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund’s Subadviser Jennison Associates, LLC, dated January 3, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 2, 2012 as Exhibit (p)(27) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(23)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund’s Subadviser Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC, dated 2013, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(24) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.


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(p)(24)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund’s Subadviser BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., dated November 10, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(25) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(25)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund’s Subadviser Holland Capital Management LLC, dated June 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(26) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(26)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund’s Subadviser Victory Capital Management Inc., dated October 1, 2011, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(27) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(27)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund’s Subadviser Palisade Capital Management, LLC, dated May 2012, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(28) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(p)(28)

   Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund’s Subadviser Sit Investment Associates, Inc., dated October 1, 2010, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (p)(29) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

(q)

   Trustees Power of Attorney to sign Amendments to this Registration Statement, dated April 17, 2013, filed electronically on or about April 26, 2013 as Exhibit (q) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374 is incorporated by reference.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant

Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the investment manager or Columbia Management), as sponsor of the Columbia funds, may make initial capital investments in Columbia funds (seed accounts). Columbia Management also serves as investment manager of certain Columbia funds-of-funds that invest primarily in shares of affiliated funds (the “underlying funds”). Columbia Management does not make initial capital investments or invest in underlying funds for the purpose of exercising control. However, since these ownership interests may be significant, in excess of 25%, such that Columbia Management may be deemed to control certain Columbia funds, procedures have been put in place to assure that public shareholders determine the outcome of all actions taken at shareholder meetings. Specifically, Columbia Management (which votes proxies for the seed accounts) and the Boards of Trustees of the affiliated funds-of-funds (which votes proxies for the affiliated funds-of-funds) vote on each proposal in the same proportion as the vote of the direct public shareholders vote; provided, however, that if there are no direct public shareholders of an underlying fund or if direct public shareholders represent only a minority interest in an underlying fund, the Fund may cast votes in accordance with instructions from the independent members of the Board.

Item 30. Indemnification

Article VII of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides that no trustee or officer of the Registrant shall be subject to any liability to any person in connection with Registrant property or the affairs of the Registrant, and no trustee shall be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Registrant or for the act or omission of any other trustee, all as more fully set forth in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement. Article 5 of the Registrant’s Bylaws provides that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless its trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Registrant’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest) (“Covered Persons”) against liabilities


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and expenses in connection with the defense or disposition of any proceeding in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened by reason of any alleged act or omission as a trustee or officer or by reason of his or her being or having been such a Covered Person, under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Bylaws, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) provides that no instrument pursuant to which Registrant is organized or administered shall contain any provision which protects or purports to protect any trustee or officer of Registrant against any liability to Registrant or its shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

In accordance with Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act, the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides that nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect any trustee or officer against any liabilities to the Registrant or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office or position with or on behalf of the Registrant and the Registrant’s Bylaws provides that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Columbia Management Distributors, Inc. agrees to indemnify the Registrant, its officers and trustees against claims, demands, liabilities and expenses under specified circumstances, all as more fully set forth in the Registrant’s Distribution Agreement, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

The Registrant may be party to other contracts that include indemnification provisions for the benefit of the Registrant’s trustees and officers.

The trustees and officers of the Registrant and the personnel of the Registrant’s investment adviser and principal underwriter are insured under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy. Registrant’s investment adviser, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, maintains investment advisory professional liability insurance to insure it, for the benefit of Registrant and its non-interested trustees, against loss arising out of any effort, omission, or breach of any duty owed to Registrant or any series of Registrant by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Registrant’s organizational instruments or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and, therefore, is unenforceable.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of the directors or officers of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management), the Registrant’s investment adviser, or any subadviser to a series of the Registrant, except as set forth below, are or have been, at any time during the Registrant’s past two fiscal years, engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.

 

(1) Columbia Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., performs investment advisory services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Columbia Management and the directors and principal officers of Columbia Management is also included in the Form ADV filed by Columbia Management with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-25943), which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition to their position with Columbia Management, certain directors and officers of Columbia Management also hold various positions with, and engage in business for, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. or its other subsidiaries. Prior to May 1, 2010, when Ameriprise Financial, Inc. acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, LLC from Bank of America, N.A., certain current directors and officers held various positions with, and engaged in business for, Columbia Management Group, LLC or other direct or indirect subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.


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(2) American Century Investment Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of American Century Investment Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by American Century Investment Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of American Century Investment Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of American Century Investment Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by American Century Investment Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-8174), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(3) Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-31237), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(4) BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-48433), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(5) Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-41391), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(6) Denver Investment Advisors LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Denver Investment Advisors LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Denver Investment Advisors LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Denver Investment Advisors LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Denver Investment Advisors LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Denver Investment Advisors LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-47933), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(7)

Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Dimensional Fund


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  Advisors, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-16283), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(8) Donald Smith & Co., Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Donald Smith & Co., Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Donald Smith & Co., Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Donald Smith & Co., Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Donald Smith & Co., Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-10798), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(9) Eaton Vance Management performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Eaton Vance Management is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Eaton Vance Management and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Eaton Vance Management and the directors and principal executive officers of Eaton Vance Management is also included in the Form ADV filed by Eaton Vance Management with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-15930), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(10) Holland Capital Management LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Holland Capital Management LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Holland Capital Management LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Holland Capital Management LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Holland Capital Management LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Holland Capital Management LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-38709), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(11) Invesco Advisers, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Invesco Advisers, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Invesco Advisers, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Invesco Advisers, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Invesco Advisers Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-33949), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(12) J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-21011), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(13) Jennison Associates LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Jennison Associates LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Jennison Associates LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Jennison Associates LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Jennison Associates LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Jennison Associates LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-5608), which is incorporated herein by reference.


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(14) The London Company of Virginia performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of The London Company of Virginia is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by London Company of Virginia and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of The London Company of Virginia and the directors and principal executive officers of The London Company of Virginia is also included in the Form ADV filed by The London Company of Virginia with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-46604), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(15) Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.is also included in the Form ADV filed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-170), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(16) Massachusetts Financial Services Company performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Massachusetts Financial Services Company is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Massachusetts Financial Services Company and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Massachusetts Financial Services Company and the directors and principal executive officers of Massachusetts Financial Services Company is also included in the Form ADV filed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-17352), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(17) Mondrian Investment Partners Limited performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Mondrian Investment Partners Limited is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Mondrian Investment Partners Limited and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Mondrian Investment Partners Limited and the directors and principal executive officers of Mondrian Investment Partners Limited is also included in the Form ADV filed by Mondrian Investment Partners Limited with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-37702), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(18) Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-15757), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(19) NFJ Investment Group LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of NFJ Investment Group LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by NFJ Investment Group LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of NFJ Investment Group LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of NFJ Investment Group LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by NFJ Investment Group LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-47940), which is incorporated herein by reference.


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(20) Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. and the directors and principal executive officers of Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-48401), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(21) Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-63658), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(22) River Road Asset Management, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of River Road Asset Management, LLC is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by River Road Asset Management, LLC and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of River Road Asset Management, LLC and the directors and principal executive officers of River Road Asset Management, LLC is also included in the Form ADV filed by River Road Asset Management, LLC with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-64175), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(23) Sit Investment Associates, Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Sit Investment Associates, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-16350), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(24) TCW Investment Management Company performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of TCW Investment Management Company is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by TCW Investment Management Company and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of TCW Investment Management Company and the directors and principal executive officers of TCW Investment Management Company is also included in the Form ADV filed by TCW Investment Management Company with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-29075), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(25) Threadneedle International Limited performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Threadneedle International Limited is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Threadneedle International Limited and the directors and principal executive officers of Threadneedle International Limited is also included in the Form ADV filed by Threadneedle International Limited with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-63196), which is incorporated herein by reference.


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(26) Turner Investments, L.P. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Turner Investments, L.P. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Turner Investments, L.P. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Turner Investments, L.P. and the directors and principal executive officers of Turner Investments, L.P. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Turner Investments, L.P. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-36220), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(27) Victory Capital Management Inc. performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Victory Capital Management Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Victory Capital Management Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Victory Capital Management Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Victory Capital Management Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Victory Capital Management Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-46878), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(28) Wells Capital Management Incorporated performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Wells Capital Management Incorporated is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Wells Capital Management Incorporated and the directors and principal executive officers of Wells Capital Management Incorporated is also included in the Form ADV filed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-21122), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(29) Winslow Capital Management, LLC performs investment management services for the Registrant and certain other clients. Information regarding the business of Winslow Capital Management, Inc. is set forth in the Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Registrant’s series that are subadvised by Winslow Capital Management, Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference. Information about the business of Winslow Capital Management, Inc. and the directors and principal executive officers of Winslow Capital Management, Inc. is also included in the Form ADV filed by Winslow Capital Management, Inc. with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (File No. 801-41316), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 32. Principal Underwriter

 

(a) Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies, including the Registrant:

Columbia Acorn Trust; Columbia Funds Series Trust; Columbia Funds Series Trust I; Columbia Funds Series Trust II; Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II; Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust; Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust I and Wanger Advisors Trust.


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(b) As to each director, principal officer or partner of Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

 

Name and Principal Business
Address*

  

Position and Offices

with Principal Underwriter

  

Positions and Offices

with Registrant

William F. Truscott    Chief Executive Officer    Board Member, Senior Vice President
Amy Unckless    President and Chief Administrative Officer    None
Jeffrey F. Peters    Managing Director and Head of Global Institutional Distribution    None
Dave K. Stewart    Chief Financial Officer    None
Scott R. Plummer    Senior Vice President, Chief Counsel and Assistant Secretary    Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Stephen O. Buff    Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer    None
Hector DeMarchena    Vice President – Institutional Asset Management Product Administration and Assistant Secretary    None
Mark Dense    Vice President – National Sales Manager IO    None
Joe Feloney    Vice President – National Sales Manager – U.S. Trust/Private Wealth Management    None
Leslie Moon    Vice President – Mutual Fund Technology    None
Brian Walsh    Vice President, Strategic Relations    None
Thomas R. Moore    Secretary    None
Michael E. DeFao    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Paul B. Goucher    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Tara W. Tilbury    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Assistant Secretary
Nancy W. LeDonne    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    None
Ryan C. Larrenaga    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Assistant Secretary
Joseph L. D’Alessandro    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Assistant Secretary
Christopher O. Petersen    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Vice President and Secretary
Eric T. Brandt    Vice President and Assistant Secretary    None
Ken Murphy    Anti-Money Laundering Officer    None
Kevin Wasp    Ombudsman    None
Lee Faria    Conflicts Officer    None

 

* The principal business address of Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. is 225 Franklin Street, Boston MA 02110.


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(c) Not Applicable.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder include:

 

    Fund headquarters, 901 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 2810, Minneapolis, MN 55402;

 

    Registrant’s investment adviser and administrator, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, American Century Investment Management, Inc., 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC, 2200 Ross Avenue, 31 st Floor, Dallas, Texas 75201;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., 55 East 52 nd Street, New York, New York 10055;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Columbia Wanger Asset Management LLC, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Denver Investment Advisors LLC, 1225 17 th Street, 26 th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80202;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P., 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Donald Smith & Co., Inc., 152 West 57 th Street, 22 nd Floor, New York, New York 10019;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Eaton Vance Management, Two International Place Boston, Massachusetts 02110;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Holland Capital Management LLC, 303 W. Madison Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60606;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Invesco Advisers, Inc., 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Jennison Associates LLC, 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, The London Company of Virginia, 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia 23226;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Massachusetts Financial Services Company, 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02199;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Mondrian Investment Partners Limited, 10 Gresham Street, 5 th Floor, London, United Kingdom EC2V7JD;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, NFJ Investment Group LLC, 2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Palisade Capital Management, L.L.C., One Bridge Plaza North, Suite 695, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, River Road Asset Management, LLC, 462 South Fourth Street, Suite 1600 Louisville, Kentucky 40202;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Sit Investment Associates, Inc., 3300 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, TCW Investment Management Company, 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser Threadneedle International Limited, 60 St. Mary Axe, London EC3A 8JQ, England;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser Turner Investments, L.P., 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Victory Capital Management Inc., 4900 Tiedeman Road, 4 th Floor, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144;


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    Registrant’s subadviser, Wells Capital Management Inc., 525 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105;

 

    Registrant’s subadviser, Winslow Capital Management, LLC, 4720 IDS Tower, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402;

 

    Registrant’s principal underwriter, Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110;

 

    Registrant’s transfer agent, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; and

 

    Registrant’s custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, NY 10005.

In addition, Iron Mountain Records Management is an off-site storage facility housing historical records that are no longer required to be maintained on-site. Records stored at this facility include various trading and accounting records, as well as other miscellaneous records. The address for Iron Mountain Records Management is 920 & 950 Apollo Road, Eagan, MN 55121.

Item 34. Management Services

Not Applicable.

Item 35. Undertakings

Not Applicable.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II, certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to its Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act, and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 29 th day of April, 2014.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II
By:  

/s/ J. Kevin Connaughton

  J. Kevin Connaughton
  President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 29 th day of April, 2014.

 

Signature    Capacity   Signature      Capacity

/s/ J. Kevin Connaughton

J. Kevin Connaughton

  

President

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

/s/ R. Glenn Hilliard*

R. Glenn Hilliard

     Trustee

/s/ Michael G. Clarke

Michael G. Clarke

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

/s/ Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.*

Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.

     Trustee

/s/ Joseph F. DiMaria

Joseph F. DiMaria

  

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

/s/ Catherine James Paglia*

Catherine James Paglia

     Trustee

/s/ William P. Carmichael*

William P. Carmichael

   Chair of the Board  

/s/ Leroy C. Richie*

Leroy C. Richie

     Trustee

/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz*

Kathleen A. Blatz

   Trustee  

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero*

Anthony M. Santomero

     Trustee

/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.*

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.

   Trustee  

/s/ Minor M. Shaw*

Minor M. Shaw

     Trustee

/s/ Pamela G. Carlton*

Pamela G. Carlton

   Trustee  

/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby*

Alison Taunton-Rigby

     Trustee

/s/ Patricia M. Flynn*

Patricia M. Flynn

   Trustee  

/s/ William F. Truscott*

William F. Truscott

     Trustee

/s/ William A. Hawkins*

William A. Hawkins

   Trustee       

 

*      By:  

/s/ Ryan C. Larrenaga

        Name:   Ryan C. Larrenaga**
  Attorney-in-fact

 

** Signed pursuant to Directors/Trustees Power of Attorney, dated April 17, 2013, filed electronically as Exhibit (q) to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to Registration Statement No. 333-146374, on or about April 26, 2013.


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SIGNATURES

CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd. has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement for Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund, with respect only to information that specifically relates to CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd., to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 29 th day of April, 2014.

 

CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd.
By  

/s/ Amy K. Johnson

  Amy Johnson
  Director

This Amendment to the Registration Statement for Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund, with respect only to information that specifically relates to CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd., has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 29 th day of April, 2014.

 

Signature    Capacity

/s/ Amy K. Johnson

Amy Johnson

   Director, CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd

/s/ Tony P. Haugen

Tony P. Haugen

   Director, CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd

/s/ Paul D. Pearson

Paul D. Pearson

   Director, CVPCSF Offshore Fund, Ltd


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Exhibit Index

 

(a)(14) Amendment No. 14 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust effective April 11, 2014.

 

(d)(1) Investment Management Services Agreement, dated March 1, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Registrant.

 

(d)(2) Schedule A, as of April 11, 2014, to the Investment Management Services Agreement, dated March 1, 2011, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC and Registrant.

 

(e)(1) Distribution Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

 

(e)(2) Schedule I, dated April 11, 2014, and Schedule II, dated September 7, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

 

(h)(3) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.

 

(h)(4) Schedule A and Schedule B, dated April 17, 2013, to the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp.

 

(i) Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered.

 

(j) Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP).

 

(m)(1) Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution, effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

 

(m)(2) Schedule A, dated April 11, 2014, to the Plan of Distribution and Agreement of Distribution, effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc.

 

(n) Rule 18f – 3(d) Plan.

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II

AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

WHEREAS, Section 5 of Article III of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II (the “Trust”), dated September 11, 2007, as amended from time to time, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, authorizes the Trustees of the Trust to amend the Declaration of Trust to change the designation of any Series or class of Shares without authorization by vote of the Shareholders of the Trust.

NOW, THEREFORE, The undersigned, being at least a majority of the Trustees of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II, do hereby certify that we have authorized the renaming of Variable Portfolio—American Century Growth Fund to Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund and Variable Portfolio—PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund to Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund and have authorized the following amendment to said Declaration of Trust:

Section 6 of Article III is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. Without limiting the authority of the Trustees as set forth in Section 5, inter alia, to establish and designate any further Series or classes or to modify the rights and preferences of any Series or class, the following Series shall be, and are hereby, established and designated;

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Balanced Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Cash Management Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Commodity Strategy Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Core Equity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Diversified Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Dividend Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Emerging Markets Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Global Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—High Yield Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Income Opportunities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—International Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Large Cap Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Large Core Quantitative Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Limited Duration Credit Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—S&P 500 Index Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Select Large—Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Select Smaller—Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Seligman Global Technology Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio—U.S. Government Mortgage Fund


Variable Portfolio—Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio—Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio—Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio—Moderately Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio—Moderate Portfolio

Variable Portfolio—American Century Diversified Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio—BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

Variable Portfolio—Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio—Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio—DFA International Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

Variable Portfolio—Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—Invesco International Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—MFS Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

Variable Portfolio—Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

Variable Portfolio—NFJ Dividend Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—Partners Small Cap Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Pyramis ® International Equity Fund

Variable Portfolio—Sit Dividend Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio—Victory Established Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the following rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series, and Shares of each class of a Multi-Class Series shall have such rights and preferences relative to other classes of the same Series as are set forth in the Declaration of Trust, together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other classes as are set forth in the Trust’s Rule 18f-3 Plan, registration statement as from time to time amended, and any applicable resolutions of the Trustees establishing and designating such class of Shares.

The rest of this Section 6 remains unchanged.

The foregoing amendment is effective as of April 11, 2014.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed this Amendment No. 14 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust on April 11, 2014.

 

/s/ Kathleen A. Blatz

   

/s/ Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.

Kathleen A. Blatz

    Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.

/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.

   

/s/ Catherine James Paglia

Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.     Catherine James Paglia

/s/ Pamela G. Carlton

   

/s/ Leroy C. Richie

Pamela G. Carlton

    Leroy C. Richie

/s/ William P. Carmichael

   

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero

William P. Carmichael

    Anthony M. Santomero

/s/ Patricia M. Flynn

   

/s/ Minor M. Shaw

Patricia M. Flynn

    Minor M. Shaw

/s/ William A. Hawkins

   

/s/ Alison Taunton-Rigby

William A. Hawkins

    Alison Taunton-Rigby

/s/ R. Glenn Hilliard

   

/s/ William F. Truscott

R. Glenn Hilliard

    William F. Truscott

 

Registered Agent:

   Corporation Service Company
   84 State Street
   Boston, MA 02109

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2011, is by and between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Investment Manager”), a Minnesota limited liability company and RiverSource Variable Series Trust (the “Registrant”), on behalf of its separate underlying series, listed in Schedule A and as applicable and effective as of the date listed in Schedule A, as may be separately amended from time to time. The terms “Fund” or “Funds” are used to refer to either the Registrant or its underlying series, as context requires).

Part One: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES

 

(1) The Fund hereby retains the Investment Manager, and the Investment Manager hereby agrees, for the period of this Agreement and under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to furnish the Fund continuously with investment advice; to determine, consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies and policies as from time to time set forth in its then-current prospectus or statement of additional information, or as otherwise established by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which investments, in the Investment Manager’s discretion, shall be purchased, held or sold, and to execute or cause the execution of purchase or sell orders; to recommend changes to investment objectives, strategies and policies to the Board, as the Investment Manager deems appropriate; to perform investment research and prepare and make available to the Fund research and statistical data in connection therewith; and to furnish all other services of whatever nature that the Investment Manager from time to time reasonably determines to be necessary or useful in connection with the investment management of the Fund as provided under this Agreement; for RiverSource Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund, to furnish the Fund all administrative, accounting, clerical, statistical correspondence, corporate and all other services of whatever nature required in connection with the administration of the affairs of the Fund, including any transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent services, subject always to oversight by the Board and the authorized officers of the Fund. The Investment Manager agrees: (a) to maintain an adequate organization of competent persons to provide the services and to perform the functions herein mentioned (to the extent that such services and functions have not been delegated to a subadviser); and (b) to maintain adequate oversight over any subadvisers hired to provide services and to perform the functions herein mentioned. The Investment Manager agrees to meet with any persons at such times as the Board deems appropriate for the purpose of reviewing the Investment Manager’s performance under this Agreement and will prepare and furnish to the Board such reports, statistical data and other information relating to the investment management of the Fund in such form and at such intervals as the Board may reasonably request. The Fund agrees that the Investment Manager may, at its own expense, subcontract for certain of the services described under this Agreement (including with affiliates of the Investment Manager) with the understanding that the quality and scope of services required to be provided under this Agreement shall not be diminished thereby, and also with the understanding that the Investment Manager shall obtain such approval from the Board and/or Fund shareholders as is required by applicable law, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, terms of this Agreement, resolutions of the Board and commitments of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager agrees that, in the event it subcontracts with another party for some or all of the investment management services contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Fund in reliance on its “manager-of-managers” exemptive order (Investment Company Act Release No. 25664 (July 16, 2002))

 

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  or a subsequent order containing such conditions, the Investment Manager will retain overall supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the Fund and, subject to review and approval by the Board, will set the Fund’s overall investment strategies (consistent with the Fund’s then-current prospectus and statement of additional information); evaluate, select and recommend one or more subadvisers to manage all or a portion of the Fund’s assets; when appropriate, allocate and reallocate the Fund’s assets among multiple subadvisers; monitor and evaluate the investment performance of subadvisers; and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the subadvisers comply with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions.

 

(2) The Investment Manager shall comply (or cause the Fund to comply, as applicable) with all applicable law, including but not limited to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1940 Act”), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the 1933 Act, and the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to the Fund as a regulated investment company.

 

(3) The Investment Manager shall allocate investment opportunities among its clients, including the Fund, in a fair and equitable manner, consistent with its fiduciary obligations to clients. The Fund recognizes that the Investment Manager and its affiliates may from time to time acquire information about issuers or securities that it may not share with, or act upon for the benefit of, the Fund.

 

(4) The Investment Manager agrees to vote proxies and to provide or withhold consents, or to provide such support as is required or requested by the Board in conjunction with voting proxies and providing or withholding consents, solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the Fund s assets may be invested from time to time, as directed by the Board from time to time.

 

(5) The Investment Manager agrees that it will maintain all required records, memoranda, instructions or authorizations relating to the management of the assets for the Fund, including with respect to the acquisition or disposition of securities. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Investment Manager hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for each Fund under this Agreement are the property of the Registrant and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Registrant any of such records upon request.

 

(6) The Fund agrees that it will furnish to the Investment Manager any information that the latter may reasonably request with respect to the services performed or to be performed by the Investment Manager under this Agreement.

 

(7)

In selecting broker-dealers for execution, the Investment Manager will seek to obtain best execution for securities transactions on behalf of the Fund, except where otherwise directed by the Board. In selecting broker-dealers to execute transactions, the Investment Manager may consider not only available prices (including commissions or mark-up), but also other relevant factors such as, without limitation, the characteristics of the security being traded,

 

Page 2


  the size and difficulty of the transaction, the execution, clearance and settlement capabilities as well as the reputation, reliability, and financial soundness of the broker-dealer selected, the broker-dealer’s risk in positioning a block of securities, the broker-dealer’s execution service rendered on a continuing basis and in other transactions, the broker-dealer’s expertise in particular markets, and the broker-dealer’s ability to provide research services. To the extent permitted by law, and consistent with its obligation to seek best execution, the Investment Manager may, except where otherwise directed by the Board, execute transactions or pay a broker-dealer a commission or markup in excess of that which another broker-dealer might have charged for executing a transaction provided that the Investment Manager determines, in good faith, that the execution is appropriate or the commission or markup is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Investment Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and other clients for which it acts as investment adviser. The Investment Manager shall not consider the sale or promotion of shares of the Fund, or other affiliated products, as a factor in the selection of broker dealers through which transactions are executed.

 

(8) Except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on the part of the Investment Manager in the performance of its duties, or reckless disregard by the Investment Manager of its obligations and duties, under this Agreement, neither the Investment Manager, nor any of its respective directors, officers, partners, principals, employees, or agents shall be liable for any acts or omissions or for any loss suffered by the Fund or its shareholders or creditors. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Investment Manager, and its respective directors, officers, partners, principals, employees and agents, shall be entitled to rely, and shall be protected from liability in reasonably relying, upon any information or instructions furnished to it (or any of them as individuals) by the Fund or its agents which is believed in good faith to be accurate and reliable. The Fund understands and acknowledges that the Investment Manager does not warrant any rate of return, market value or performance of any assets in the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the federal securities laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith and, therefore, nothing herein shall constitute a waiver of any right which the Fund may have under such laws or regulations.

Part Two: COMPENSATION TO THE INVESTMENT MANAGER

 

(1) The Fund agrees to pay to the Investment Manager, in full payment for the services furnished, a fee as set forth in Schedule A, which may be separately amended from time to time pursuant to the approval of the Board and consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

 

(2) The fee shall be accrued daily (unless otherwise directed by the Board consistent with the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund) and paid on a monthly basis and, in the event of the effectiveness or termination of this Agreement, in whole or in part with respect to any Fund, during any month, the fee paid to the Investment Manager shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days that this Agreement is in effect during the month with respect to which such payment is made.

 

Page 3


(3) The fee provided for hereunder shall be paid in cash by the Fund to the Investment Manager within five business days after the last day of each month.

Part Three: ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES

 

(1) The Investment Manager shall (a) furnish at its expense such office space, supplies, facilities, equipment, clerical help and other personnel and services as are required to render the services contemplated to be provided by it pursuant to this Agreement and (b) pay the compensation of the trustees or officers of the Fund who are directors, officers or employees of the Investment Manager (except to the extent the Board of the Fund shall have specifically approved the payment by the Fund of all or a portion of the compensation of the Fund’s chief compliance officer or other officer(s)). Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Investment Manager, and except to the extent required by law to be paid or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager shall have no duty to pay any Fund operating expenses incurred in the organization and operation of the Fund.

Part Four: MISCELLANEOUS

 

(1) The Investment Manager shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized in this Agreement or otherwise, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund.

 

(2) The Fund acknowledges that the Investment Manager and its affiliates may perform investment advisory services for other clients, so long as the Investment Manager’s services to the Fund under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may give advice or take action in the performance of duties to other clients that may differ from advice given, or the timing and nature of action taken, with respect to the Fund, and the Investment Manager and its affiliates and their respective clients may trade and have positions in securities of issuers where the Fund may own equivalent or related securities, and where action may or may not be taken or recommended for the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to impose upon the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates any obligation to purchase or sell, or recommend for purchase or sale for the Fund, any security or any other property that the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates may purchase, sell or hold for its own account or the account of any other client.

 

(3) Neither this Agreement nor any transaction pursuant hereto shall be invalidated or in any way affected by the fact that Board members, officers, agents and/or shareholders of the Fund are or may be interested in the Investment Manager or any successor or assignee thereof, as directors, officers, stockholders or otherwise; that directors, officers, stockholders or agents of the Investment Manager are or may be interested in the Fund as Board members, officers, shareholders or otherwise; or that the Investment Manager or any successor or assignee is or may be interested in the Fund as shareholder or otherwise, provided, however, that neither the Investment Manager, nor any officer, Board member or employee thereof or of the Fund, shall knowingly sell to or buy from the Fund any property or security other than shares issued by the Fund, except in accordance with applicable regulations, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) orders or published SEC staff guidance.

 

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(4) Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the party to this Agreement entitled to receive such, at such party’s principal place of business, or to such other address as either party may designate in writing mailed to the other in accordance with this Paragraph (4).

 

(5) All information and advice furnished by the Investment Manager to the Fund under this Agreement shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to unaffiliated third parties, except as required by law, order, judgment, decree, or pursuant to any rule, regulation or request of or by any government, court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission, other governmental or regulatory authority or any self-regulatory organization. All information furnished by the Fund to the Investment Manager under this Agreement shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to any unaffiliated third party, except as permitted or required by the foregoing, where it is necessary to effect transactions or provide other services to the Fund, or where the Fund requests or authorizes the Investment Manager to do so. The Investment Manager may share information with its affiliates in accordance with its privacy and other relevant policies in effect from time to time.

 

(6) This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(7) A copy of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time, is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer or trustee of the Registrant in his or her capacity as an officer or trustee of the Registrant and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Registrant individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Registrant. Furthermore, notice is hereby given that the assets and liabilities of each series of the Registrant are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to the series of the Registrant are several and not joint.

 

(8) If any term, provision, agreement, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court or other authority of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, agreements, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired, or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a reasonably acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

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(9) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for all purposes and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Part Five: RENEWAL AND TERMINATION

 

(1) This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date of its execution, and from year to year thereafter, unless and until terminated by either party as hereinafter provided, only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Board or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Board members who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. As used in this paragraph, the term “interested person” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act and any applicable order or interpretation thereof issued by the SEC or its staff. As used in this agreement, the term “majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act.

 

(2) This Agreement may be terminated, with respect to any Fund, by either the Fund or the Investment Manager at any time by giving the other party 60 days’ written notice of such intention to terminate, provided that any termination shall be made without the payment of any penalty, and provided further that termination may be effected either by the Board or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

 

(3) This Agreement shall terminate in the event of its assignment, the term “assignment” for this purpose having the same meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act, unless the SEC issues an order exempting such assignment from the provisions of the 1940 Act requiring such termination, in which case this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, subject to the terms of such order.

 

(4) Except as prohibited by the 1940 Act, this Agreement may be amended with respect to any Fund upon written agreement of the Investment Manager and the Trust, on behalf of that Fund.

Part Six: Use of Name

 

(1) At such time as this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment hereof, or any similar agreement with any organization which shall have succeeded to the business of the Investment Manager, shall no longer be in effect, the Fund will cease to use any name derived from the name of the Investment Manager or of any organization which shall have succeeded to the Investment Manager’s business as investment adviser.

 

Page 6


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Agreement as of March 1, 2011.

 

RIVERSOURCE VARIABLE SERIES TRUST
By:  

/s/ J. Kevin Connaughton

  Name: J. Kevin Connaughton
  Title: President

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael A. Jones

  Name: Michael A. Jones
  Title: President

Schedule A

As of April 11, 2014

Asset Charge

The following funds shall not pay the Investment Manager a direct fee for services rendered hereunder:

 

    Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

 

    Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

 

    Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

 

    Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

 

    Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

For the following funds, the asset charge for each calendar day of each year shall be equal to the total of 1/365 th (1/366 th in each leap year) of the amount computed in accordance with the fee schedule in the table, below:

 

Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)    Annual rate at
each asset level

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011*    First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

   0.660%

0.615%

0.570%

0.520%

0.510%

0.490%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $2.5

Next $1.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Over $24.0

   0.330%

0.313%

0.295%

0.278%

0.260%

0.240%

0.220%

0.215%

0.190%

0.180%

0.170%

0.160%

0.150%

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Commodity Strategy Fund #

   Agreement adopted as of Jan. 16, 2013; and Schedule A effective as of Jan. 16, 2013    First $0.50

Next $0.50

Next $2.00

Next $3.00

Over $6.00

   0.550%

0.505%

0.480%

0.460%

0.440%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    All    0.400%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $4.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $3.0

Next $8.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

   0.430%

0.420%

0.400%

0.380%

0.365%

0.360%

0.350%

0.340%

0.320%

0.300%


Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)    Annual rate at
each asset level

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Emerging Markets Bond Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of January 12, 2012    First $0.50

Next $0.50

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

   0.530%

0.525%

0.515%

0.495%

0.480%

0.455%

0.440%

0.431%

0.419%

0.409%

0.393%

0.374%

0.353%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Next $50.0

   0.480%

0.455%

0.430%

0.405%

0.380%

0.365%

0.360%

0.350%

0.340%

0.330%

0.310%

0.290%

Columbia VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 12, 2012    Assets invested in
underlying funds
(including any
ETFs) that pay an
investment
advisory fee to
the Investment
Manager
   0.00%
      Assets invested in securities (other than underlying mutual funds (including any ETFs) that pay an investment advisory fee to the Investment Manager), including other funds advised by the Investment Manager that do not pay an investment advisory fee, derivatives and individual securities.
      First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

   0.66%

0.615%

0.57%

0.52%

0.51%

0.49%


Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)    Annual rate at
each asset level

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011*    First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $2.0

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

   0.710%

0.660%

0.565%

0.560%

0.540%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $4.5

Next $8.0

Next $30.0

Over $50.0

   0.570%

0.525%

0.520%

0.515%

0.510%

0.500%

0.490%

0.480%

0.470%

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Next $50.0

   0.440%

0.415%

0.390%

0.365%

0.340%

0.325%

0.320%

0.310%

0.300%

0.290%

0.270%

0.250%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

   0.590%

0.575%

0.570%

0.560%

0.550%

0.540%

0.515%

0.490%

0.475%

0.450%

0.435%

0.425%

0.400%

0.385%

0.360%


Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)    Annual rate at
each asset level

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

   0.590%

0.575%

0.570%

0.560%

0.550%

0.540%

0.515%

0.490%

0.475%

0.450%

0.435%

0.425%

0.400%

0.385%

0.360%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011*    First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

   0.710%

0.665%

0.620%

0.570%

0.560%

0.540%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011*    First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $9.0

Over $12.0

   0.760%

0.715%

0.670%

0.620%

0.620%

0.620%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 1, 2011*    First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $9.0

Over $12.0

   0.760%

0.715%

0.670%

0.620%

0.620%

0.620%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    All    0.100%

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011***    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Next $1.5

Next $1.5

Next $1.0

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

   0.360%

0.355%

0.350%

0.345%

0.330%

0.315%

0.310%

0.300%

0.290%

0.280%

0.260%

0.240%


Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)      Annual rate at
each asset level
 

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Seligman Global Technology Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 7, 2011     

 

 

First $2.0

Next $2.0

Over $4.0

  

  

  

    

 

 

0.950%

0.910%

0.870%

  

  

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011     

 

 

 

 

First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $2.0

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

0.710%

0.660%

0.565%

0.560%

0.540%

  

  

  

  

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller—Cap Value Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011     

 

 

First $0.5

Next $0.5

Over $1.0

  

  

  

    

 

 

0.790%

0.745%

0.700%

  

  

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011**     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $1.0

Next $5.5

Next $2.5

Next $5.0

Next $5.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.100%

1.080%

1.060%

1.040%

1.020%

1.000%

0.985%

0.970%

0.960%

0.935%

0.920%

0.900%

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011*     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.5

Next $1.5

Next $3.0

Next $6.0

Next $8.0

Next $4.0

Next $26.0

Over $50.0

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.800%

0.775%

0.750%

0.725%

0.700%

0.650%

0.640%

0.620%

0.620%

0.610%

0.600%

0.570%

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Variable Portfolio –Sit Dividend Growth Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 1, 2011**     

 

 

 

 

 

First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

0.730%

0.705%

0.680%

0.655%

0.630%

0.600%

  

  

  

  

  

  

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011**     

 

 

 

 

 

First $0.5

Next $0.5

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $3.0

Over $6.0

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

0.780%

0.755%

0.730%

0.705%

0.680%

0.650%

  

  

  

  

  

  

Variable Portfolio—DFA International Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—Invesco International Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—Pyramis International Equity Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011     

 

 

First $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $2.0

  

  

  

    

 

 

0.850%

0.800%

0.700%

  

  

  


Fund

  

Agreement Adoption

and Schedule A

Effective Date

   Net Assets (billions)    Annual rate at
each asset level

Variable Portfolio—American Century Diversified Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio—J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio—Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of July 1, 2013    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $3.0

   0.480%

0.450%

0.400%

0.375%

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio—MFS Value Fund

Variable Portfolio—NFJ Dividend Value Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $2.0

   0.650%

0.600%

0.500%

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of May 1, 2013    First $1.0

Next $0.5

Next $0.5

Over $2.0

   0.650%

0.600%

0.550%

0.500%

Variable Portfolio—Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $2.0

   0.630%

0.580%

0.530%

Variable Portfolio—Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $2.0

   0.750%

0.700%

0.650%

Variable Portfolio—Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Over $0.50

   0.950%

0.900%

0.850%

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of July 1, 2013    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.50

Next $2.00

Over $3.00

   0.950%

0.900%

0.850%

0.750%

0.720%

Variable Portfolio—Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $1.0

Next $1.0

Over $2.0

   0.850%

0.800%

0.750%

Variable Portfolio—Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of March 1, 2011    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Over $0.50

   0.900%

0.850%

0.800%

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

   Agreement adopted as of March 1, 2011; and Schedule A effective as of April 30, 2011**    First $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Next $0.25

Over $1.0

   0.970%

0.945%

0.920%

0.895%

0.870%

 

# When calculating asset levels for purposes of determining fee breakpoints, asset levels are based on net assets of the Fund, including assets invested in any wholly-owned subsidiary advised by the Investment Manager (“Subsidiaries”). Fees payable by the Fund under this agreement shall be reduced by any investment management service fees paid to the Investment Manager by any Subsidiaries under separate investment management services agreements with the Subsidiaries.
* Reflects elimination of the Performance Incentive Adjustment and changes to the fee schedule.
** Reflects elimination of the Performance Incentive Adjustment.
*** Reflects changes to the fee schedule.


The computation shall be made for each calendar day on the basis of net assets as of the close of the preceding day. In the case of the suspension of the computation of net asset value, the fee for each calendar day during such suspension shall be computed as of the close of business on the last full day on which the net assets were computed. Net assets as of the close of a full day shall include all transactions in shares of the Fund recorded on the books of the Fund for that day.


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Schedule A as of April 11, 2014.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES

TRUST II

By:   /s/ Michael G. Clarke
  Name: Michael G. Clarke
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT

ADVISERS, LLC

By:   /s/ J. Kevin Connaughton
  Name: J. Kevin Connaughton
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of September 7, 2010, by and between each trust or corporation (each such trust being hereinafter referred to as a “Trust” and each series of a Trust, if any, as listed on Schedule I, if any, being hereinafter referred to as a “Fund” with respect to that Trust, but for any Trust that does not have any separate series, then any reference to the “Fund” is a reference to that Trust, as relevant), and Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Distributor”). Absent written notification to the contrary by either the Trust or the Distributor, each new investment portfolio of the Trust established in the future shall automatically become a “Fund” for all purposes hereunder and shares of each new class established in the future shall automatically become “Shares” for all purposes hereunder as if set forth on Schedule I. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply separately with respect to each Trust and Fund, as relevant.

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Distributor as the exclusive distributor of the units of beneficial interest in all classes of shares (“Shares”) of the Trust and each Fund, if applicable, and the Distributor is willing to render such services; and

WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (the “FINRA”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:

1. SERVICES AS DISTRIBUTOR.

1.1. The Distributor will act as agent for the distribution of Shares in accordance with any instructions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, as applicable (the Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, as applicable, hereinafter referred to as the “Board”), and with the registration statement applicable to the Trust then in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and will transmit promptly any orders properly received by it for the purchase or redemption of Shares to the Trust or its transfer agent, or their designated agents. As used in this Agreement, the term “registration statement” shall mean any registration statement, specifically including, but not limited to, any then-current prospectus together with any related then-current statement of additional information, filed with the SEC with respect to Shares, and any amendments and supplements thereto which at any time shall have been filed.

1.2. The Distributor agrees to use reasonable efforts to solicit orders for the sale of Shares and will undertake such advertising and promotion as it believes appropriate in connection with such solicitation. The Distributor agrees to offer and sell Shares at the applicable public offering price or net asset value next determined after an order is received, in accordance with the terms


and conditions set forth in the then-current prospectus(es) applicable to the Fund. The Trust understands that the Distributor is and may in the future be the distributor of shares of other investment company portfolios including portfolios having investment objectives similar to those of the Trust and the Funds, as applicable. The Trust further understands that existing and future investors in the Trust and each Fund, if applicable, may invest in shares of such other portfolios. The Trust agrees that the Distributor’s duties to such portfolios shall not be deemed in conflict with its duties to the Trust under this paragraph 1.2. The Distributor agrees that any outstanding shares of a Fund may be tendered for redemption at any time in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the then-current prospectus.

1.3. The Distributor shall, at its own expense, finance such activities as it deems reasonable and which are primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales literature.

1.4. The Trust shall be responsible for expenses relating to the execution of any and all documents and the furnishing of any and all information and otherwise taking, or causing to be taken, all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the registration of Shares under the 1933 Act and the Trust under the 1940 Act and the qualification of Shares for sale under the so-called “blue sky” laws in such states as the Trust directs and in such states as the Distributor may recommend to the Trust which the Trust approves, and the Trust shall pay all fees and other expenses incurred in connection with such registration and qualification.

1.5. The Distributor shall be responsible for preparing, reviewing and providing advice on all sales literature (e.g., advertisements, brochures and shareholder communications) with respect to the Trust and each Fund, if applicable, and shall file with the FINRA or the appropriate regulators all such materials as are required to be filed under applicable laws and regulations in compliance with such laws and regulations.

1.6. In connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, the Trust and the Distributor agree to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of the FINRA and all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations. The Distributor agrees to provide the Trust with such certifications, reports and other information as the Trust may reasonably request from time to time to assist it in complying with, and monitoring for compliance with, such laws, rules and regulations.

1.7. Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual market, economic or political conditions, or by other circumstances of any kind, the Trust’s officers may decline to accept any orders for, or make any sales of, Shares until such time as those officers deem it advisable to accept such orders and to make such sales.

1.8. The Trust shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with the sale of Shares, such information with respect to the operations and performance of the Trust and each Fund, if applicable, and Shares as the Distributor may reasonably request and the Trust warrants


that such information shall be true and correct. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall also furnish the Distributor upon reasonable request by it : (a) audited annual and unaudited semi-annual statements of the Trust’s books and accounts with respect to the Trust and each Fund, if applicable, and (b) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial condition of the Trust and each Fund, if applicable.

1.9. The Trust may from time-to-time adopt one or more distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. As compensation for services rendered hereunder, the Distributor shall be entitled to receive from the Trust/Fund the payments set forth on Schedule II attached hereto, as the same may be amended from time-to-time by agreement of the parties hereto. The Distributor, from time to time, may assign to any third party all or any portion of amounts payable to the Distributor under this Agreement.

1.10. The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of Rule 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor, if any.

1.11. The Distributor is authorized to enter into written agreements (“Selling Agent Agreements”) with banks, broker/dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (collectively, “Intermediaries”), on terms and conditions consistent with this Agreement and all applicable laws, regulations and exemptive relief. The Selling Agent Agreements shall be on the general forms that are approved by the Board. The Distributor also may enter into other forms of agreements relating to selling agent activities and support as it deems appropriate, provided that the Distributor determines that the Trust’s responsibility or liability to any person under, or on account of any acts or statements of any such Intermediary under, any such agreement does not exceed its responsibility or liability under the general form(s) of Selling Agent Agreement approved by the Board, and provided further that the Distributor determines that the overall terms of any such agreement are not materially less advantageous to the Trust than the overall terms of the general form(s) of Selling Agent Agreement approved by the Board. In entering into and performing any agreements, the Distributor shall act as principal and not as agent for the Trust or any Fund, if applicable. Upon the failure of any Intermediary to pay for any order for the purchase of Shares in accordance with the terms of the Trust’s or any Fund’s, if applicable, prospectus, the Trust or any Fund, if applicable, shall have the right to cancel the sale of such Shares and thereupon the Distributor shall be responsible for any loss sustained as a result thereof.

2. REPRESENTATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION.

2.1. The Trust represents to the Distributor that all registration statements with respect to Shares and shareholder reports with respect to the Trust or any Fund, if applicable, filed by the Trust with the SEC, have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, as applicable, and rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. The Trust/Fund further represents and warrants to the Distributor that any registration statement, when such registration statement becomes effective, and any shareholder report, when such report is filed, will contain all statements required to be stated therein in conformity with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the


SEC; that all statements of fact contained in any such registration statement or shareholder report will be true and correct in all material respects when such registration statement becomes effective, or when such shareholder report is filed; and that no registration statement, when such registration statement becomes effective, and no shareholder report, when such shareholder report is filed, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Shares; provided, however, that the foregoing representations and warranties shall not apply to any untrue statement of material fact or omission made in any registration statement or shareholder report in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Trust by the Distributor or any affiliate thereof and used in preparation thereof. The Trust authorizes the Distributor and authorized Intermediaries to use any prospectus or statement of additional information in the form furnished from time-to-time in connection with the sale of Shares and represented by the Trust as being the then-current form of prospectus or then-current form of statement of additional information.

2.2. The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and all reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Distributor, its officers and directors, or any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon (a) any material breach by the Trust of any provision of this Agreement, or (b) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any registration statement or shareholder report or arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any registration statement or shareholder report or necessary to make any statement in such documents not misleading; provided, however, that the Trust’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor, its officers and directors, and any such controlling person shall not cover any claims, demands, liabilities or expenses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any registration statement or shareholder report or in any financial or other statements in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Trust by the Distributor or any affiliate thereof and used in the preparation thereof; and further provided that the Trust’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor, its officers and directors, and any such controlling person shall not be deemed to cover any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Distributor, is officers and directors, or any such controlling person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of the duties of the Distributor, its officers or directors, or any controlling person thereof, or by reason of the reckless disregard of the obligations and duties under this Agreement by the Distributor, its officers or directors, or any controlling person thereof.

The Trust’s agreement to indemnify, as set forth herein, the Distributor, its officers and directors, and any controlling person thereof, as set forth herein, is expressly conditioned upon the Trust’s being notified of any action brought against the Distributor, its officers or directors, or any controlling person thereof, such notification to be given in writing and to be transmitted by personal delivery, first class mail, overnight courier, facsimile or other electronic means to the


Trust within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served. The failure to so notify the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability hereunder, which the Trust may have to the person against whom, such action is brought, except to the extent the Trust has been actually prejudiced by such delay. The Trust will be entitled to assume at its own expense the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by the Distributor, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but if the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or if the Distributor reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen by the Trust, the Trust will reimburse the Distributor, its officers and directors, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Distributor or them.

The Trust’s indemnification agreement contained in this paragraph 2.2 and the Trust’s representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Distributor, its officers or directors, or any controlling person thereof, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Distributor’s benefit, to the benefit of its several officers and directors, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of the controlling persons and their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers, Trustees, or Directors in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.

2.3. The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several officers, Trustees and Directors, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the costs of investigation or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and all reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers, Trustees or Directors or any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust, its officers, Trustees or Directors, or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands, shall arise out of or be based upon (a) any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in information furnished by the Distributor or any affiliate thereof to the Trust or its counsel and used in the Trust’s registration statement or shareholder reports, or any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished by the Distributor or any affiliate thereof to the Trust or its counsel required to be stated in such information or necessary to make such information not misleading, (b) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any sales literature prepared by the Distributor, or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make such sales literature not misleading (except to the extent arising out of information furnished by the Trust to the Distributor for use therein), (c) any willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof, or (d) any breach by the Distributor of any provision of this Agreement.


The Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers, Trustees and Directors, and any controlling person thereof, as set forth herein, is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor’s being notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers, Trustees or Directors, or any controlling person thereof, such notification to be given in writing and to be transmitted by personal delivery, first class mail, overnight courier, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means to the Distributor by the person against whom such action is brought, within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served. The failure to so notify the Distributor of any such action shall not relieve the Distributor or any affiliate thereof from any liability hereunder, which the Distributor or any affiliate thereof may have to the Trust, its officers, Trustees or Directors, or to controlling person thereof by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, or other conduct covered by this indemnity agreement, except to the extent the Distributor has been actually prejudiced by such delay. The Distributor shall have the right to control the defense of such action, with counsel of good standing of its own choosing, approved by the Board which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld, if such action is based solely upon such misstatement or omission, or alleged misstatement or omission, on the Distributor’s part or any affiliate thereof.

2.4. The Trust agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably practicable of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or of the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose. Thereafter, no Shares shall be offered by either the Distributor or the Trust and no orders for the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long as the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the 1933 Act, or if and so long as a current prospectus, as required by Section 10(b) of the 1933 Act is not on file with the SEC; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph 2.4 shall in any way restrict or have any application to or bearing upon the Trust’s obligation to repurchase Shares from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s prospectus(es) or of the Declaration of Trust.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY.

The Trust and Distributor may receive from each other information, or access to information, about the shareholders generally and specifically (collectively, “Shareholder Information”) including, but not limited to, nonpublic personal information such as a shareholder’s name, address, telephone number, account relationships, account balances and account histories. Each of the Trust and Distributor agrees, on behalf of their respective agents and employees that all information, including Shareholder Information, obtained pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered confidential information. Except as permitted by law or required by order of a court or governmental authority, including by any self-regulatory organization, having jurisdiction over the parties, none of the parties shall disclose Shareholder Information to any other person or entity or use such confidential information other than to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, including, among other uses, its use under applicable provisions of the SEC’s Regulation S-P in the ordinary course of carrying out the purposes of this Agreement.


4. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM.

The Distributor represents and warrants that it (a) has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) that satisfies the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations; and (b) will notify the Trust promptly if an inspection by the appropriate regulatory authorities of the AML Program identifies any material deficiency, and (c) will promptly remedy any material deficiency regarding the AML Program of which it learns.

5. RULE 22c-2.

Each of the Trust and the Distributor agree to comply with the requirements of Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act. Further, the Trust represents that the Board has made the findings contemplated by Rule 22c-2(a)(1).

6. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY.

The Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by any Trust or any Fund, if applicable, in connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, except as provided in paragraph 2.3 hereof, and except a loss resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

7. TERM.

7.1. This Agreement shall become effective on the date of its execution and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect for a period of two (2) years from the date written above. This Agreement shall thereafter continue from year to year, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board or (ii) a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or any Fund, if applicable, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by the majority of the members of the Board who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

7.2. This Agreement is terminable with respect to the Trust or any Fund without penalty, on not less than sixty (60) days’ written notice, by the Board, by vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of such Trust or any Fund, if applicable, or by the Distributor. This Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). Upon termination, the obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall cease except for unfulfilled obligations and liabilities arising prior to termination and the provisions of Sections 2, 3, 5, 7.2, 8, 9 and 10.


8. LIMITED RECOURSE

A reference to each Trust and the Trustees or Directors, as applicable, of each Trust refer respectively to the Trust created by the Declaration of Trust or articles of incorporation and the Trustees or Directors as Trustees or Directors but not individually or personally. All parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any and all liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement will be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Trust and that no Trustee, officer, director or shareholder shall be personally liable for any such liabilities. All persons dealing with any Trust or any Fund, if applicable, must look solely to the property belonging to such Trust or any Fund, if applicable, for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust.

9. MISCELLANEOUS.

9.1. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

9.2. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as in effect as of the date hereof and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.

 

10. NOTICES.

Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to such address as may be designated for the receipt of such notice.

 

11. COUNTERPARTS.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trusts that are organized as Massachusetts business trusts are on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Distributor acknowledges that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each Fund by an officer thereof in his or her capacity as an officer thereof and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Trusts individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property of the Trusts. The Distributor further acknowledges that the assets and liabilities of each Fund that is a series of a Trust are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of a Trust are binding solely upon the assets or property of such Fund. The Distributor also agrees that obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of a Trust shall be several and not joint, in accordance with its proportionate interest hereunder, and agrees not to proceed (by way of claim, set-off or otherwise) against any Fund for the obligations of another Fund.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.

 

EACH TRUST DESIGNATED IN SCHEDULE I,

on behalf of its respective Funds, if any

By:   /s/ J. Kevin Connaughton
 

Name: J. Kevin Connaughton

Title:   President

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:   /s/ Beth Ann Brown
Name:   Beth Ann Brown
Title:   Senior Vice President

Distribution - CFVSTII

Schedule I

As of April 11, 2014

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund


Distribution - CFVSTII

IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Schedule I as of April 11, 2014.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II

on behalf of its respective Funds, if any

By:  

/s/ Michael G. Clarke

  Name: Michael G. Clarke
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT

DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

By:  

/s/ Jeffrey F. Peters

  Name: Jeffrey F. Peters
  Title: Managing Director and Head of Global           Institutional Distribution


Distribution - CFVSTII

SCHEDULE II

COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION TO DISTRIBUTOR. In connection with the distribution of Shares, Distributor will be entitled to receive payments pursuant to any Distribution Plan and related agreement from time to time in effect between any Fund and Distributor or any particular class of shares of a Fund (“12b-1 Plan”).

Approved: Sept. 7, 2010

TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AGREEMENT

This agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of September 7, 2010, by and between the trust or corporation acting on behalf of its series all as listed on Schedule A hereto (as the same may from time to time be amended to add or delete one or more series of such trusts or corporations) (each such trust and corporation being hereinafter referred to as a “Trust” and each series of a Trust, if any, being hereinafter referred to as a “Fund” with respect to that Trust, but for any Trust that does not have any separate series, then any reference to the “Fund” is a reference to that Trust), and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., a Minnesota corporation (“CMISC”).

WHEREAS, each Trust is a registered investment company and desires that CMISC perform certain services for the Funds; and

WHEREAS, CMISC is willing to perform such services upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment . Each Trust hereby appoints CMISC to act as Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent for the Funds, and CMISC accepts such appointments and will perform the respective duties and functions of such appointments in the manner hereinafter set forth.

2. Compensation . Each Trust shall pay to CMISC, or to such person(s) as CMISC may from time to time instruct, for services rendered and costs incurred in connection with the performance of duties hereunder, such compensation and reimbursement as may from time to time be approved by the Board of Trustees/Directors (the “Board”) of the Trust.

Schedule B hereto sets forth the compensation and reimbursement arrangements to be effective as of the date of this Agreement, and the treatment of all interest earned with respect to balances in the accounts maintained by CMISC referred to in paragraphs 5, 8, and 9 of this Agreement, net of any charges imposed by the bank(s) at which CMISC maintains such accounts.

3. Copies of Documents . Each Trust will furnish CMISC with copies of the following documents: the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and all amendments thereto; and the Trust’s registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) as in effect on the date hereof under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all amendments or supplements thereto hereafter filed. The prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information contained in each such Registration Statement, as from time to time amended and supplemented, together are herein collectively referred to as the “Prospectus.”


4. Lost or Destroyed Certificates . In case of the alleged loss or destruction of any shareholder certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof. CMISC shall cancel such lost or destroyed certificate, and, provided that the purported holder of such lost or destroyed certificate furnishes to CMISC an affidavit of loss of the shares represented by such lost or destroyed certificate in a form satisfactory to CMISC, supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to CMISC and the Trust and issued by a surety company satisfactory to CMISC, CMISC shall reflect the ownership by such holder of the shares represented by such lost or destroyed certificate in its book entry system.

5. Receipt of Funds for Investment . CMISC will maintain one or more accounts with its cash management bank into which it will deposit funds payable to CMISC as agent for, or otherwise identified as being for the account of, each Fund, and will promptly thereafter deposit such funds in the Fund’s account with its custodian (the “Custodian”) and notify the Fund of such deposits in writing.

6. Shareholder Accounts . Upon receipt of any funds referred to in paragraph 5 hereof, CMISC will compute the number of shares purchased by the shareholder according to the net asset value of Fund shares next determined after such receipt; and

(a) in the case of a new shareholder, open and maintain an open account for such shareholder in the name or names set forth in the subscription application form; and

(b) send to the shareholder a confirmation indicating the amount of full and fractional shares purchased (in the case of fractional shares, rounded to three decimal places) and the price per share;

all subject to any reasonable instructions which the Fund’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”) or a Trust may give to CMISC with respect to rejection of orders for shares and in accordance with the Prospectus.

7. Unpaid Checks . In the event that any check or other order for payment of money on the account of any shareholder or new investor is returned for any reason, CMISC will take such steps, including imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee on such shareholder or investor, as CMISC may, in CMISC’s discretion, deem appropriate, or as a Trust or the Distributor may instruct CMISC.

8. Dividends and Distributions . Each Trust will promptly notify CMISC of the declaration of any dividend or distribution with respect to shares of Funds of such Trust, the amount of such dividend or distribution, the date each such dividend or distribution shall be paid, and the record date for determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution. As Dividend Disbursing Agent, CMISC will, on or before the payment date of any such dividend or distribution, notify the Custodian of the estimated amount of cash required to pay such dividend or distribution, and each Trust agrees that on or before the mailing date of such dividend or distribution it will instruct the Custodian to make available to CMISC sufficient funds therefor in a dividend and distribution account maintained by CMISC with the Custodian. As Dividend Disbursing Agent, CMISC will prepare and distribute to shareholders any funds to which they are entitled by reason of any dividend or distribution and, in the case of shareholders entitled to receive additional shares by reason of any such dividend or distribution, CMISC will make or cause to be recorded appropriate credits to their accounts and prepare and mail to shareholders a confirmation statement. CMISC will replace lost or stolen checks issued to a shareholder upon receipt of proper notification and will maintain any stop payment order against the lost or stolen checks, subject to the imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee on such shareholder, as CMISC may, in CMISC’s discretion, deem appropriate, or as each Trust or the Distributor may instruct CMISC.


9. Repurchase and Redemptions . CMISC will receive and stamp with the date of receipt all requests delivered to CMISC for repurchase or redemption of shares and CMISC will process such repurchases as agent for the Distributor and such redemptions as agent for each Trust as follows, all in accordance with the terms and procedures set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus:

(a) If such request complies with standards for repurchase or redemption approved from time to time by the Trust, CMISC will, on or prior to the seventh calendar day succeeding the receipt of any such request for repurchase or redemption in good order, pay to the shareholder from funds deposited by the Trust from time to time in a repurchase and redemption account maintained by CMISC with its cash management bank, the appropriate repurchase or redemption price, as the case may be, as set forth in the Prospectus;

(b) If such request does not comply with said standards for repurchase or redemption as approved by the Trust, CMISC will promptly notify the shareholder of such fact, together with the reason therefor, and shall effect such repurchase or redemption at the price in effect at the time of receipt of documents complying with said standards, or, in the case of a repurchase, at such other time as the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, shall so direct; and

(c) CMISC shall notify the Trust and the Distributor as soon as practicable on each business day of the total number of Fund shares covered by requests for repurchase or redemption that were received by CMISC in proper form on the previous business day, such notification to be confirmed in writing.

10. Exchanges and Transfers . Upon receipt by CMISC of a request to exchange Fund shares held in a shareholder’s account for shares of another Fund, CMISC will verify that the exchange request is made by authorized means and that the requested exchange is in accordance with the Trust’s applicable policies and will process a redemption and corresponding purchase of shares in accordance with each Trust’s redemption and purchase policies and in accordance with the redemption and purchase provisions of this Agreement. Upon receipt by CMISC of a request to transfer Fund shares accompanied by such endorsements, instruments of assignment or evidence of succession as CMISC may require and further accompanied by payment of any applicable transfer taxes, and satisfaction of any conditions contained in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, and Prospectus, CMISC will record the transfer of ownership of such shares in the appropriate records and will process the transfer in accordance with the Trust’s transfer policies and will open an account for the transferee, if a new shareholder, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

11. Tax Forms and Reports . CMISC will prepare, file with the Internal Revenue Service and with any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental agency which may require such filing, and, if required, mail to shareholders such forms and reports for reporting dividends and distributions paid by the Funds as are required to be so prepared, filed and mailed by applicable laws, rules and regulations, and CMISC will withhold from distributions to shareholders such sums as are required to be withheld under applicable foreign, federal and state income tax laws, rules and regulations.


12. Record Keeping . CMISC will maintain records, which at all times will be the property of each respective Trust and available for inspection by the Trust and Distributor, showing for each shareholder’s account the following:

(a) Name, address and United States taxpayer identification or Social Security number, if provided (or amounts withheld with respect to dividends and distributions on shares if a taxpayer identification or Social Security number if not provided);

(b) Number of shares held and number of shares for which certificates have been issued;

(c) Historical information regarding the account of each shareholder, including dividends and distributions paid, if any, and the date and price for all transactions on a shareholder’s account;

(d) Any stop or restraining order placed against a shareholder’s account;

(e) Information with respect to withholdings of taxes on dividends paid to foreign accounts; and

(f) Any instruction as to record address, and any correspondence or instructions or privileges (such as a telephone exchange privilege), relating to the maintenance of a shareholder’s account.

In addition, CMISC will keep and maintain on behalf of each respective Trust all records which the Trust or CMISC is required to keep and maintain pursuant to any applicable statute, rule or regulation, including without limitation, Rules 17Ad-6 and 17Ad-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 31(a)-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, relating to the maintenance of records in connection with the services to be provided hereunder.

13. Other Information Furnished . CMISC will furnish to each Trust and the Distributor or to third parties at their direction, such as the Trust’s Blue Sky service provider, such other information, including shareholder lists and statistical information as may be agreed upon from time to time between CMISC and the Trust. CMISC shall notify a Trust of any request or demand to inspect the share records books of the Trust and will act upon the instructions of the Trust as to permitting or refusing such inspection. CMISC will also provide reports pertaining to the services provided under this Agreement as the Trust or its Board may reasonably request.

14. Shareholder Inquiries . CMISC will respond promptly to written correspondence from shareholders, registered representatives of broker-dealers engaged in selling Fund shares, the Trust and the Distributor relating to its duties hereunder, and such other correspondence or communications as may from time to time be mutually agreed upon between CMISC and each Trust. CMISC also will respond promptly to telephone inquiries from shareholders with respect to existing accounts.


15. Communications to Shareholders and Meetings . CMISC will determine all shareholders entitled to receive, and will address and mail, all communications by a Trust to its shareholders, including annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, proxy material for meetings of shareholders, dividend notifications, and other periodic communications to shareholders. CMISC will receive, examine and tabulate returned and completed proxy cards for meetings of shareholders and certify the vote to the Trust.

16. Other Services . If and as requested by the Trust (and as mutually agreed upon by the parties as to any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses), CMISC shall provide any additional related services, including but not limited to services pertaining to escheatments, abandoned property, garnishment orders, bankruptcy and divorce proceedings, Internal Revenue Service or state tax authority tax levies and summonses, and U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control and all matters relating to the foregoing.

17. Insurance . CMISC will maintain adequate insurance coverage with respect to the services provided under this Agreement, and will not allow such insurance coverage to lapse, without the prior written consent of each Trust.

18. Service Levels . CMISC agrees to report to the Board of each Trust on the nature and quality of the services it provides to the Funds under this Agreement, as may be requested by the Board from time to time.

19. Duty of Care and Indemnification . CMISC will at all times use reasonable care and act in good faith in performing its duties hereunder. CMISC will not be liable or responsible for delays or errors by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national or state emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of transportation, communication or power supply, so long as CMISC maintains comprehensive business continuity plans and procedures pursuant to Section 26 hereof.

CMISC may rely on certifications of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of a Trust as to proceedings or facts in connection with any action taken by the shareholders or the Board of that Trust, and upon instructions not inconsistent with this Agreement from the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of that Trust. CMISC may seek from counsel for a Trust, at the Trust’s expense, or its own counsel advice whenever it deems it appropriate. With respect to any action reasonably taken on the basis of such certifications or instructions or in accordance with the advice of counsel for a Trust, the Trust will indemnify and hold harmless CMISC from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses), provided that such certifications or instructions are not provided by an employee of CMISC or any affiliate of CMISC.


Each Trust will indemnify CMISC against and hold CMISC harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any material breach by a Trust of any provision of this Agreement provided that such claim, demand, action or suit is not the result of CMISC’s bad faith or negligence.

In any case in which a Trust may be asked to indemnify or hold harmless CMISC, CMISC shall advise the Trust of all pertinent facts concerning the situation giving rise to the claim or potential claim for indemnification, and CMISC shall use reasonable care to identify and notify the Trust promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present a claim for indemnification.

20. Employees . CMISC is responsible for the employment, control and conduct of its agents and employees and for injury or harm to such agents or employees or to others caused by such agents or employees. CMISC assumes full responsibility for its agents and employees under applicable statutes and agrees to pay all employer taxes thereunder.

21. AML/CIP . CMISC agrees to use its best efforts to provide anti-money laundering services to each Trust and to operate the Trust’s customer identification program, in each case in accordance with the written procedures developed by CMISC and adopted or approved by the Board of the Trust and with applicable law and regulation. CMISC further agrees to cooperate with any request from examiners or other personnel of U.S. Government agencies having jurisdiction over the Trust for information and records relating to the anti-money laundering procedures or services and consents to inspection by such examiners or other personnel for this purpose.

22. Termination . This Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated (with respect to any Trust) by not less than sixty (60) days’ written notice given by the Trust to CMISC or by six (6) months’ written notice given by CMISC to the Trust. Upon termination hereof, the relevant Trust shall pay such compensation as may be due to CMISC as of the date of such termination.

23. Successors . In the event that in connection with termination of this Agreement a successor to any of CMISC’s duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by a Trust by written notice to CMISC, CMISC shall promptly, at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor a certified list of the shareholders of the Funds (with name, address and taxpayer identification or Social Security number), the historical record of the account of each shareholder and the status thereof, and all other relevant books, records, correspondence and other data established or maintained by CMISC under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which CMISC has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the same to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from CMISC’s personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by such successor. CMISC shall be entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses in respect of assistance provided in accordance with the preceding sentence, unless such termination resulted from a material breach of this Agreement by CMISC or was caused by CMISC. Also, in the event of the termination of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the agreements or licenses described below, CMISC shall, if requested by the officers on behalf of the Board of the Trust, use reasonable efforts to assign to the Trust, or its designee, such portion


of its rights under any existing agreements to which it is a party and pursuant to which it has a right to have access to data processing capability in connection with the services contemplated by this Agreement and under any licenses to use third-party software in connection with the services contemplated by this Agreement and under any licenses to use third-party software in connection therewith as is applicable to the Trust, and in connection with such assignment shall grant to the assignee an irrevocable right and license or sublicenses, on a non-exclusive basis, to use any software used in connection therewith and, on an exclusive basis, any proprietary rights or interest which it has under such agreements or licenses.

24. Use of Affiliated Companies and Subcontractors . In connection with the services to be provided by CMISC under this Agreement, CMISC may, to the extent it deems appropriate, and subject to compliance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations and upon receipt of approval of the Board of a Trust, make use of (i) its affiliated companies and their directors, trustees, officers and employees and (ii) subcontractors selected by it, with the understanding that there shall be no diminution in the quality or level of services provided to the Trust, and provided that CMISC shall supervise and remain fully responsible for the services of all such third parties in accordance with and to the extent provided in this Agreement. All costs and expenses associated with services provided by any such third parties shall be borne by CMISC or such parties, except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement.

25. Confidentiality . CMISC agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of each Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties under this Agreement, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where CMISC may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust. Furthermore, CMISC will implement procedures reasonably designed to safeguard information in accordance with the Fund’s privacy policy as adopted by the Board and with applicable laws and regulations.

26. Compliance . CMISC agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, codes, orders, self-regulatory organization guidelines or regulations, and government rules in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. CMISC agrees to provide each Trust with such certifications, reports and other information, and reasonable access to appropriate personnel and facilities, as the Trust may reasonably request from time to time to assist it in complying with, and monitoring for compliance with, applicable laws, rules and regulations. CMISC will implement, test and maintain comprehensive business continuity plans and procedures as appropriate to provide uninterrupted services to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, CMISC will perform all services covered by the Agreement in a manner so as to conform with the procedures and arrangements described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

27. Market Timing . CMISC will assist other service providers of the Trust as necessary in the implementation of the Trust’s market timing policy adopted by the Board, as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus. Furthermore, to the extent applicable, CMISC will carry out its obligations set forth in the Fund’s Compliance Program concerning the implementation and administration of policies and procedures relating to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.


28. Miscellaneous . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written document signed by both parties hereto. All provisions regarding indemnification, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality shall survive the termination of this Agreement. This Agreement, including the attached Schedules, sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and incorporates, merges and supersedes any and all prior understandings and communications, whether written or oral, with respect to such subject matter.

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trusts that are organized as Massachusetts business trusts are on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and CMISC acknowledges that this Agreement is executed on behalf of each Trust by an officer thereof in his or her capacity as an officer thereof and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Trusts individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property of the Trusts. CMISC further acknowledges that the assets and liabilities of each Fund that is a series of a Trust are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of a Trust are binding solely upon the assets or property of such Fund. CMISC also agrees that obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each Fund that is a series of a Trust shall be several and not joint, in accordance with its proportionate interest hereunder, and agrees not to proceed (by way of claim, set-off or otherwise) against any Fund for the obligations of another Fund.

[ The remainder of this page intentionally left blank .]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

EACH TRUST DESIGNATED IN SCHEDULE A

on behalf of their respective series listed on Schedule A

By:   /s/ J. Kevin Connaughton
 

Name: J. Kevin Connaughton

Title: President

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP.
By:   /s/ Steve Welsh
 

Name: Steve Welsh

Title: President

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement

SCHEDULE A

As of April 17, 2013

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – American Century Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

Variable Portfolio—Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent Agreement


SCHEDULE B

Payments under the Agreement to CMISC shall be made in the first two weeks of the month following the month in which a service is rendered or an expense incurred.

Transfer agency fees for each of Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 shares shall be calculated at the annual rate of 0.06% of the net assets attributable to such class.

Transfer agency fees for Class 2 for Columbia VP – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund shall be calculated as follows:

0.00%—on assets invested in underlying funds that pay a transfer agency fee to CMISC; and

0.06%—on assets invested in securities (other than underlying mutual funds that pay a transfer agency fee to CMISC), including other funds that do not pay a transfer agency fee to CMISC, exchange-traded funds, derivatives and individual securities.

In addition, CMISC shall be entitled to retain as additional compensation for its services all CMISC revenues for fees for wire, telephone, and redemption orders, account transcripts due CMISC from shareholders of the Fund and interest (net of bank charges) earned with respect to balances in the accounts referred to in paragraph 2 of the Agreement.

All determinations hereunder shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and subject to audit by the Funds’ independent accountants.

Except as expressly provided in the Agreement, CMISC shall not be entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. The Funds will promptly reimburse CMISC for any other unscheduled expenses incurred by CMISC whenever the Funds and CMISC mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise properly borne by CMISC as part of its duties under the Agreement.


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Schedule A and Schedule B as of April 17, 2013.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II
on behalf of its respective series listed on Schedule A
By:  

/s/ J. Kevin Connaughton

  Name: J. Kevin Connaughton
  Title: President

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Welsh

  Name: Stephen Welsh
  Title: President

April 29, 2014

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

50606 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474

Gentlemen:

I have examined the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II (the Trust) and all necessary certificates, permits, minute books, documents and records of the Trust, and the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is my opinion that the shares sold in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws will be validly issued and, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that are applicable to the issuance of shares by entities such as the Trust, purchasers of the shares will have no obligation to make further payments for their purchase of shares or contributions to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of their ownership of shares.

This opinion may be filed as part of the registration statement of the Trust on Form N-1A relating to the offering and sale of the shares of each series of the Trust.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ Scott R. Plummer

Scott R. Plummer

General Counsel

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated February 21, 2014, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the December 31, 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund (formerly Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Fund), Columbia Variable Portfolio—Limited Duration Credit Fund, Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund (formerly Variable Portfolio—American Century Growth Fund), Variable Portfolio –Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund, Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund (formerly Variable Portfolio – Marsico Growth Fund), Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund, Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund, Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund, Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund, Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly Variable Portfolio—PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund), Variable Portfolio – Pyramis ® International Equity Fund and Variable Portfolio –Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund (twenty-six of the funds constituting Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II), which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 25, 2014


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated February 26, 2014, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the December 31, 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund, Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund, Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund and Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund (nine of the funds constituting Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II), which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 25, 2014


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated February 19, 2014, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the December 31, 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders of Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Core Equity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund, Columbia Variable Portfolio – Seligman Global Technology Fund and Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund (formerly Columbia Variable Portfolio – Short Duration U.S. Government Fund) (sixteen of the funds constituting Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II), which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 25, 2014

RiverSource Variable Series Trust

Seligman Portfolios, Inc.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION AND

AGREEMENT OF DISTRIBUTION

AMENDED AND RESTATED

The Plan of Distribution (“Plan”) and Agreement of Distribution (“Agreement”), effective May 1, 2009, amended and restated March 7, 2011 (together “Plan and Agreement”), is by and between Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (“Columbia Management Investment Distributors” or the “Distributor”), a Delaware corporation, principle underwriter of RiverSource Variable Series Trust and Seligman Portfolios, Inc. pursuant to a separate distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”), for distribution services to the funds, and RiverSource Variable Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, and Seligman Portfolios, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Registrant” or “Registrants”), on behalf of their underlying series (each a “fund” and collectively the “funds”) and share classes, listed in Schedule A. The terms “Fund” or “Funds” are used to refer to either the Registrants or the underlying series as context requires.

The Plan and Agreement are separate and each has been approved by members of the Board of Directors or Trustees (the “Board”) of the Funds who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan and Agreement, or any related agreement, and all of the members of the Board, in person, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan and Agreement.

1. Reimbursement Plan

 

  1.1 The Fund will reimburse the Distributor for various costs paid and accrued in connection with the distribution of the Funds’ shares and the servicing of owners of the Funds through variable life insurance or annuity contracts, as set forth in the fee schedule included in Schedule A.

2. Services Provided and Expenses Borne by Distributor

 

  2.1 RiverSource Fund Distributors shall provide distribution and underwriting services and shall bear all distribution related expenses to the extent specified in the Distribution Agreement.

 

  2.2 Each Fund recognizes and agrees that Columbia Management Investment Distributors may offer the Funds’ shares to one or more affiliated or unaffiliated life insurance companies (“Life Companies”) for purchase on behalf of certain of their separate accounts for the purpose of funding variable life insurance contracts or variable annuity contracts or both (collectively referred to as “Variable Contracts”) and may compensate such Life Companies for providing services to Variable Contract owners or in connection with the distribution of Fund shares.


RiverSource Variable Series Trust

Seligman Portfolios, Inc.

 

3. Services

 

  3.1 The Funds shall reimburse Columbia Management Investment Distributors at a rate not to exceed the rate set forth in Schedule A as partial consideration for the services it provides that are intended to benefit the Variable Contract owners and not the Life Companies’ separate accounts that legally own the shares. Such services may include printing and mailing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, supplements, and reports to existing and prospective Variable Contract owners; preparation and distribution of advertisement, sales literature, brokers’ materials and promotional materials relating to the Funds; presentation of seminars and sales meetings describing or relating to the Funds; training sales personnel regarding the Funds; compensation of sales personnel for sale of the Funds’ shares; compensation of sales personnel for assisting Life Companies or Variable Contract owners with respect to the Funds’ shares; overhead of Columbia Management Investment Distributors and its affiliates appropriately allocated to the promotion of sale of the Funds’ shares; and any other activity primarily intended to result in the sale of the Funds’ shares, including payments to Life Companies.

4. Reports

 

  4.1 Columbia Management Investment Distributors shall provide all information relevant and necessary for the Board to make informed determinations about whether each of the Plan and Agreement should be continued and shall: submit quarterly a report that sets out the expenses paid or accrued by it, the names of the Life Companies to whom the Funds’ shares are sold, and the payments made to each Life Company that has been reimbursed; use its best efforts to monitor the level and quality of services provided by it and each Life Company to which payment is made and to assure that in each case legitimate services are rendered in return for the reimbursement pursuant to the Plan and Agreement; and meet with the Funds’ representatives, as reasonably requested, to provide additional information.

5. Miscellaneous

 

  5.1 Columbia Management Investment Distributors represents that it will provide full disclosure of the Funds’ 12b-1 Plan and Agreement in the Funds’ prospectus.

 

  5.2 All payments by Columbia Management Investment Distributors to Life Companies shall be made pursuant to a written agreement. The written agreement shall: require disclosure of the fees in accordance with applicable laws; provide for termination at any time without penalty as required by Rule 12b-1; and continue so long as its continuance is done in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1.

 

  5.3 The Funds represent that the Plan and the Agreement has been approved as required by Rule 12b-1 and may continue for more than one year so long as it is continued as required by Rule 12b-1. The Plan shall continue until terminated by action of the members of the Funds’ Board who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Plan, and the related Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of an assignment as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 


RiverSource Variable Series Trust

Seligman Portfolios, Inc.

 

  5.4 Neither the Plan nor the Agreement may be amended to materially increase the amount of the payments without the approval of the outstanding voting securities.

 

  5.5 This Plan and Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.

 

  5.6 For Each Fund that is organized as a Massachusetts Business Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust, together with all amendments, is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been authorized by the Trustees and the Agreement has been signed by an authorized officer of the Fund. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund, personally, but bind only the assets and property of the Fund, as provided in the Declaration of Trust.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

RIVERSOURCE VARIABLE SERIES TRUST

SELIGMAN PORTFOLIOS, INC.

/s/ J. Kevin Connaughton
J. Kevin Connaughton
President

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
/s/ Beth Ann Brown
Beth Ann Brown
Senior Vice President

 

Schedule A

April 11, 2014

 

Funds

   Classes  
   Class 2      Class 3      Class 4  

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

        

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

     —           Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Seligman Global Technology Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio—U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

     Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

     Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

     Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

     Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

     Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

     Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Victory Established Value Fund

     Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

     Class 2         —           —     


Fee Schedule

The maximum fee for services under this Plan and Agreement shall be the lesser of the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (including any unreimbursed expenses) or a rate equal on an annual basis to the following percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the applicable class:

 

Class    Fee  

Class 2

     0.25

Class 3

     0.125

Class 4

     0.25

Payments under the Plan and Agreement shall be made within five (5) business days after the last day of each month. At the end of each calendar year, Columbia Management Investment Distributors shall furnish a declaration setting out the actual expenses it has paid and accrued. Any money that has been paid in excess of the amount of these expenses shall be returned to the Funds.


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing Schedule A as of April 11, 2014.

 

COLUMBIA FUNDS VARIABLE SERIES TRUST II
By:   /s/ Michael G. Clarke
 

Michael G. Clarke

Chief Financial Officer

 

COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:   /s/ Jeffrey F. Peters
 

Jeffrey F. Peters

Managing Director and Head of Global Institutional Distribution

AMENDED AND RESTATED

RULE 18f-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN

I. Introduction.

Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), this Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan (“Plan”) sets forth the methods for allocating fees and expenses among the classes of shares (“Shares”) in the investment portfolios (the “Funds”) of Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II (the “Trust”). Among other things, this Plan identifies expenses that may be allocated to a particular class of Shares to the extent that they are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. In addition, this Plan sets forth the maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum shareholder administration fees, conversion features, exchange privileges, other shareholder services and transfer agency fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust.

The Trust is an open-end series investment company registered under the 1940 Act, the Shares of which are registered on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trust offers multiple classes of Shares in its Funds pursuant to the provisions of Rule 18f-3 and this Plan.

Each Fund and the classes of Shares representing interests in the Fund it issues are set forth in Schedule A hereto. Schedule A shall be updated by officers of the Trust from time to time as necessary to reflect the current classes and Funds offered by the Trust.

II. Allocation of Expenses.

1. Except as otherwise set forth herein or as may from time to time be specifically approved the Trustees, all expenses of each Fund shall be allocated proportionately among the classes of such Fund pro rata based on the relative net assets of each class. Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust shall allocate to each class of Shares in a Fund any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the distribution and/or the provision of shareholder services to holders of such class of Shares under any distribution plan, shareholder servicing plan and/or plan administration agreement (a “Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan”).

2. In addition, pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust may allocate to a particular class of Shares the following fees and expenses, if any, but only to the extent they relate to (as defined below) the particular class of Shares:

 

  (i) transfer agency fees and expenses identified by the transfer agent or the officers as being fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (ii) printing and postage expenses of preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses, reports and proxies to current shareholders of such class of Shares or to regulatory agencies that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (iii) blue sky registration or qualification fees that relate to such class of Shares;


  (iv) Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (v) expenses of administrative personnel and services (including, but not limited to, those of a portfolio accountant, custodian or dividend paying agent charged with calculating net asset values or determining or paying dividends) as required to support the shareholders of such class of Shares;

 

  (vi) litigation or other legal expenses that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (vii) fees of the Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (viii) independent accountants’ fees that relate to such class of Shares; and

 

  (ix) any other fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may not allocate advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of a Fund’s assets to a particular class, except that the Trust may cause a class to pay a different advisory fee to the extent that any difference in amount paid is the result of the application of the same performance fee provisions in the advisory contract of the Fund to the different investment performance of each class.

3. For all purposes under this Plan, fees and expenses “that relate to” a class of Shares are those fees and expenses that are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or that relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. The officers of the Trust shall have the authority to determine, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation and/or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, whether any or all of the fees and expenses described in paragraph 2 above should be allocated to a particular class of Shares. The Treasurer, any Deputy or Assistant Treasurer, or another appropriate officer of the Trust shall periodically or as frequently as requested by the Board report to the Board of Trustees regarding any such allocations.

4. For all purposes under this Plan, “Daily Dividend Fund” means any Fund that has a policy of declaring distributions of net investment income daily, including any money market fund that determines net asset value using the amortized cost method permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

5. Income and any expenses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund, excluding the value of subscriptions receivable (the “Settled Shares Method”).

Realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund (the “Relative Net Assets Method”).


6. Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of Funds that are not Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the Relative Net Assets Method.

7. Transfer agency fees for each Share class are charged at a rate set forth in the transfer agency agreement. There is no transfer agency service fees for Class 2 and Class 4 of Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio, Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio and Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio.

8. In certain cases, a Fund service provider may waive or reimburse all or a portion of the expenses of a specific class of Shares of the Fund. The applicable service provider shall report to the Board of Trustees regarding any such waivers or reimbursements, including why they are consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of shareholders of all classes.

III. Class Arrangements.

The following summarizes the maximum initial sales loads, contingent deferred sales charges, maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum plan administration and/or shareholder administration fees, if any, conversion features, exchange privileges and other shareholder service fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust. Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in the relevant Fund’s (or Funds’) current prospectus(es) and statement of additional information.

 

  1. Class 1 Shares

 

  A. Maximum Initial Sales Load : None

 

  B. Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None

 

  C. Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : None

 

  D. Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 1 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  E. Other Shareholder Services : Class 1 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  2. Class 2 Shares

 

  A. Initial Sales Load : None

 

  B. Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None


  C. Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Class 2 Shares may pay distribution and service fees pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan as described in the prospectuses as from time to time in effect. Such distribution fees may be in amounts up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to such class.

 

  D. Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 2 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  E. Other Shareholder Services : Class 2 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  3. Class 3 Shares

 

  A. Initial Sales Load : None

 

  B. Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None

 

  C. Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class 3 Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.125% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.

 

  D. Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 3 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  E. Other Shareholder Services : Class 3 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  4. Class 4 Shares

 

  A. Initial Sales Load : None

 

  B. Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge : None

 

  C. Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees : Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class 4 Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.


  D. Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges : Class 4 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  E. Other Shareholder Services : Class 4 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

IV. Board Review.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall review this Plan, including the application of the Relative Net Assets Method and the Settled Shares Method to the Funds, as frequently as it deems necessary. Prior to any material amendment(s) to this Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, shall find that the Plan, as proposed to be amended (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating class and/or Fund expenses), is in the best interests of each class of Shares of the Fund individually and the Fund as a whole. In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.

 

Adopted:

   September 7, 2010

Amended and Restated:

   April 17, 2013

Amended and Restated

   April 11, 2014


Schedule A

Effective April 11, 2014

Funds and Authorized Classes of Shares

The Funds are authorized to issue those classes of Shares representing interests in the Funds as indicated in the following table:

F UNDS WITH C LASSES 1, 2, 3 AND 4

 

Funds

   Classes  
   Class 1      Class 2      Class 3      Class 4  

Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II

           

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Cash Management Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Commodity Strategy Fund

     Class 1         Class 2                 —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Diversified Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Dividend Opportunity Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2                 —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Emerging Markets Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Global Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – High Yield Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Income Opportunities Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – International Opportunity Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Large Core Quantitative Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Limited Duration Credit Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Mid Cap Value Opportunity Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – S&P 500 Index Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Large-Cap Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – Select Smaller-Cap Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio—Seligman Global Technology Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Government Mortgage Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Aggressive Portfolio

     —           Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – American Century Diversified Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – BlackRock Global Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger International Equities Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

 

A-1


Funds

   Classes  
   Class 1      Class 2      Class 3      Class 4  

Variable Portfolio – Columbia Wanger U.S. Equities Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Conservative Portfolio

     —           Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – DFA International Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Holland Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Invesco International Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – J.P. Morgan Core Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – MFS Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Moderate Portfolio

     —           Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

     —           Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Moderately Conservative Portfolio

     —           Class 2         —           Class 4   

Variable Portfolio – Mondrian International Small Cap Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Morgan Stanley Global Real Estate Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – NFJ Dividend Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Nuveen Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Partners Small Cap Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Pyramis International Equity Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Sit Dividend Growth Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – TCW Core Plus Bond Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —     

Variable Portfolio – Victory Establish Value Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         Class 3         —     

Variable Portfolio – Wells Fargo Short Duration Government Fund

     Class 1         Class 2         —           —